MAMMALS COLLECTED IN BENGAL. 97 



towards nightfall and settle on the fruit trees. They never came 

 all at once but singly or in pairs, flapping slowly after each other. 

 Before alighting on the tree, they always flew slowly round once 

 or twice. The late comers were invariably ejected by their more 

 fortunate earlier companions, and then much flapping and 

 screeching took place. On the road to Begum Serai is a large 

 dead cotton tree, which is always covered during the day by 

 hundreds of these Bats roosting. They are known to Anglo- 

 Indians as " Flying Fox." 



Rhinolophus affinis, Horsf. (Allied Horseshoe-Bat). — I found 

 this Bat very common at Dalsingh Serai. They frequent old 

 buildings and drains during the day. 



Megaderma lyra, Geoffr. (Indian Vampire Bat). — I found this 

 Bat fairly common at Dalsingh Serai, but did not observe it else- 

 where in the district. My specimens were all taken from an old 

 barn, from the rafters of which they used to hang during the 

 day. I once had a whole cage of small birds (Munias) killed 

 by one of these Bats, which got in during the night. 



Vesperugo abramus, Temm. (Indian Pipistrelle). — Abundant 

 everywhere. This I found to be the first Bat to appear in the 

 evenings. Numbers used to frequent the bamboos in the roof 

 of my bungalow in the daytime. 



V. serotinus, Schreb. (Serotine). — It is with some hesita- 

 tion I add this species to my list, but I caught a Bat at Hat- 

 towrie in August, 1901, that I am nearly sure was this species. 

 It was in poor condition and most of the fur worn off the belly. 

 It measured: head and body, 2'4 in.; tail, l'l in.; forearm, 

 4 in.; hind foot, *4 in. 



Cerivoulapicla, Pall. (Painted Bat). — I once procured several 

 of this species at Dalsingh Serai in the cold weather of 1897. They 

 were taken from under the beams of an old bridge that was being 

 repaired. The females had naked young clinging to them. 



Sciurus palmarum, Linn. (Palm Squirrel). — Very common in 

 most parts of the district, scarce or entirely wanting in others. 

 This is perhaps one of the most familiar of Indian mammals, and 

 its naturally fearless nature makes it an amusing pet* They feed 

 chiefly on fruit and occasionally rob birds' nests. A pair that 

 used to live in the roof of my bungalow became very tame, and 

 would jump on to the breakfast table when no one was there 



Zool 4th ser. vol VII., March, 1903. i 



