1917.] Lang and Chapin, Distribution and Ecology of African Chiroptera. 493 



6, a crest, sometimes larger in females, as in Chcerephon f rater, or present 

 only in males as in Chcerephon (Lophomops) aboe (pp. 547 and 553); 



7, the higher sagittal crest of the skull in some males, as of Mops (Allo- 

 mops) osborni (p. 470); 



As a rule, all the Chiroptera have one young, but from several records 

 we conclude that two may occur occasionally in all species. Most bats in 

 these regions breed throughout the year, but a definite breeding season may 

 exist in such gregarious forms as Eidolon hehum (p. 497) and Nyctinomus 

 ochraceus (p. 546) and perhaps in most of the Molossidse. 



Besides man the rather rare bat-hawk, Machcerhamphus anderssoni, is 

 their most important enemy (Plate LV). Fast flier that it is, bats still 

 know how to dodge it. It cannot pounce upon them successfully except 

 when high above the dense canopies of the forest or over wide expanses of 

 water. 



Appendix A. — Native Beliefs and Interest in Bats. 



Since, in making these collections, we profited much by the information 

 gathered from natives, it may be well to state a few of their beliefs. With 

 their fondness for generalizations they consider all bats birds though they 

 readily distinguish two categories: the larger fruit-eating kinds that bite 

 like a dog and the smaller insectivorous bats that fly about like swallows and 

 have needles in their mouth. 



The lack of meat-producing herds of cattle, with dogs and chickens 

 only as a meagre substitute, and with cannibalism practically abolished, 

 have helped to develop in these Congolese negroes an interest in the haunts of 

 bats. They are still a more satisfactory animal food than grasshoppers 

 or caterpillars, The smaller species inhabiting hollow trees, rocky clefts 

 or caves on account of their large number are as welcome as the larger fruit- 

 bats. The native says the former live in villages but if he finds fruit-bats 

 hanging together in clusters {Eidolon hehum) he believes they assemble so 

 as not to get wet from the daily rain, and is quite amused that the younger 

 ones, having to hang outside, complain and scold continually. The negro 

 also knows that fruit-bats hear well when asleep, for he has observed that 

 they move their head, no matter how cautiously approached. They seem 

 to be unable to discover the native who, shooting a few with an arrow, 

 considers all of them blind during the day. 



Though hardly any species is rejected as too small, the Molossidse, 

 forming large colonies, contribute much to the fame of bats as delicacies. 

 These natives consider disagreeable odor an advantage and fat flatters their 

 palate. Spiked on a splinter of wood, singed and broiled over the fire, the 



