FISH-EATING BATS 237 



tacles ; then after a few moments' intermission, by 

 a contortion of the jaw, aided by the motion of the 

 muscles of the pouch, a portion was returned to 

 the mouth and again masticated. This was repeated 

 till all was swallowed, and the pouches appeared 

 empty and contracted up out of sight." 



A more curious observation in regard to this 

 same species of bat was made by the late Mr 

 Fraser in Ecuador. He watched it skimming the 

 bank of the river at Esmeraldas, every now and 

 then making a dash along and actually striking the 

 water, catching the minute shrimps as they passed 

 up stream. The specimens of this bat which he 

 secured were found to have a very offensive fishy 

 smell. 



But the most remarkable statement respecting 

 the food and habits of Noctilio leporinus comes to 

 us from Trinidad, where it is asserted that this 

 species is common in caves upon the islands of the 

 Bocas (or Straits), and preys upon the small fry of 

 fish, which it catches by dashing down suddenly on 

 the appearance of a shoal upon the surface of the 

 water. The story is not new, having been told by 

 the late Charles Kingsley many years ago ; but, 

 although he saw the bats in question dashing down 

 to the water at intervals, he missed the opportunity 

 of satisfying himself of the object of their 

 manoeuvres, and it is only lately that conclusive 

 proof has been obtained of the habits attributed to 

 them by residents in Trinidad. 



In his delightful volume. At Last : a Cliistmas in 

 the West Indies, which was published in 1871, and 



