A SPINY-HAIRED RAT FIRES THE ELASH 



a surplus of specimens lay at his feet, 

 while the rest took wing and in bewilder- 

 ment circled about the lantern. 



Our next effort was directed toward 

 getting specimens of the larger bats, 

 which hung from the highest domes, and 

 could only be obtained by throwing mis- 

 siles at them (see page 185). While 

 picking up some loose pieces of rock 

 for this purpose, we were startled by a 

 quick flash and the reverberating report 

 of a heavy rifle discharged by the guide 

 in another misdirected effort to aid us. 

 A few mangled and useless bodies fell, 

 and then a black stream circled noise- 

 lessly overhead, creating a perceptible 

 current of air as they passed continu- 

 ously back and forth through the con- 

 necting caverns. Finally they attached 

 themselves to the roof and a sufficient 

 number were obtained for our purpose, 

 and then a series of flashlight pictures 

 were taken, several of which are shown 

 on pages 184 and 185. 



Upon the large detached rocks were 

 dozens of big black beetles, either noc- 

 turnal in their habits or accustomed to 

 feed on the vermin or excrement of the 

 bats. A careful examination of these 

 caves indicated that they did not belong 

 to the group formerly discovered by vis- 

 iting Americans, and as they contain a 

 vast deposit of bat guano and are near 

 water transportation this supply may be- 

 come of considerable value as a fertilizer. 



EYES THAT SHINE AT NIGHT 



One of the most effective means in 

 night hunting is the use of a lantern that 

 will cause the eyes of wild animals to 

 shine. 



But what has appeared strange is the 

 lack of any general understanding of 

 this interesting phenomenon. In ancient 

 and modern writings, scientific and other- 

 wise, the glowing eyes of animals at 

 night have been a matter of frequent 

 comment, and often as not inaccurate or 



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