2006 Quadrupeds. 



This was repeated till all was swallowed, and the pouches appeared empty and con- 

 tracted up out of sight. The whole process was much like rumination. Small por- 

 tions of the muscle of a hird, which were presented to one, he chewed up and deposited 

 in the pouches ; but after being regurgitated, and a second time masticated, they were 

 expelled instead of being swallowed. The process of eating seemed an awkward one ; 

 it was a rapid succession of choppings with the long canines, through which the 

 tongue was thrust about so nimbly that it appeared a wonder it was not impaled per- 

 petually. 



" In order to rest, like other bats they crawled upwards and backwards by means of 

 the hind-feet, seeking the greatest elevation they could attain which afforded a hold 

 for the claws. They were social, though both were males ; usually hanging side by 

 side, or sometimes with the leg of one crossing the leg of the other, or even one upon 

 the other. Sometimes they brought their faces together, and licked each other's open 

 mouths in a singular manner ; and this appeared grateful to them. I did not hear 

 either of them click or squeak. 



" Pressed by numerous engagements, I was prevented from again visiting the tree 

 until about ten days after. I then went thither in the afternoon, wishing to see the 

 bats emerge for the night ; but though I waited till after sunset, not one appeared. 

 The next morning I smoked the cavity again, using the fumes of burning nitre and 

 sulphur, but entirely without success. I hence inferred that they had deserted the 

 tree as a dwelling on the first molestation. After some months, however, I again 

 found it tenanted by the same species, if not the same individuals, and succeeded in 

 obtaining another specimen, whose manners in captivity were identical with those re- 

 corded above. 



" I have never seen the species abroad (so as to identify it), but my intelligent ne- 

 gro lad, Sam, observed two about noon on the 16th of April, the sun shining vertically. 

 It was at a provision-ground at Belmont, where they were clinging to the limb of a 

 young Avogada pear (Persea). A Banana-bird (Icterus leucopteryx) was flying towards 

 them, apparently with the intention of pecking them, on whose approach they flew 

 away in different directions. The lad did not perceive them until the very moment of 

 separation and flight, but he noticed that they were in actual contact, though he 

 could not tell their position. No hole or hollow tree was near. Could they have been 

 in copuld ? 



(l I conjecture that it is the present species to which reference is made in the follow- 

 ing paragraph, which appeared in the * Salisbury Journal ' of February 6th, 1847 : — 

 * Mr. Thomas Dickon, an eminent farmer in Lincolnshire, had been induced to go to 

 Jamaica, as manager of some extensive estates there, with the intention of introducing 

 the best systems of farming where they had been hitherto unknown. Accounts have 

 been received that there is already every probability of a considerable increase of sugar 

 being produced, by applying a new guano as tillage. It is the dung of large bats. 

 The bats are said to amount to myriads ; and Mr. D. having observed many of these 

 singular animals entering the crevices of one of the numerous rocks, caused an open- 

 ing to be made and the place explored. The cave was found to be 250 feet long, 20 

 feet broad, and from 20 to 30 feet high. The interior contained thousands of these 

 animals, and appeared to have been their dwelling for ages. At the bottom of the 

 cave, bats' dung, at least four feet in thickness, and amounting to about 600 tons in 

 weight, was discovered, and found to be equal to the best Ichaboe guano.' 



** I sent a copy of the above notice to my esteemed friend, Richard Hill, Esq., of 



