1917.] 



Lang and Chapin, Field Notes on African Chiroptera. 



545 



Two large flying-squirrels (Anomalurus jacksoni) had already been 

 chased out of this tree by poking a long stick up into it, but since this method 

 no longer produced any effect, we now stuffed burning sticks and leaves into 

 the aperture. For a long time only a little pale blue smoke leaked out above, 

 nothing stirred, and the refuge seemed deserted. At length, however, the 

 inside of the tree took fire, and dense clouds of thick yellowish smoke began 

 to roll upwards. Suddenly a tiny flying-squirrel (Idiurus macrotis) made 

 its appearance at one of the upper openings, but withdrew again into the 

 smoke. Soon we discerned another that had already climbed well out 

 on a limb, where it clung against the bark. Had not the tree been nearly 

 bare of foliage we should never have seen it. The smoke was becoming 

 unbearable; the tenants were forced to make a sortie. Three tiny flying 

 squirrels made good their escape by sailing off to shelter in other trees, but 

 four more were secured, as well as two large flying squirrels and this bat, 

 which clambered out on to the bark, but fortunately did not take wing. 

 The only other inhabitant seemed to be a large gecko (Hemidactylns). 



The tall hollow trunk made an efficient chimney; after a time its whole 

 interior, with a loud roar, burst into flames, which leaped up out of the open- 

 ings at the top. The hunt was finished. What impressed us most was the 

 amount of smoking these animals could stand before they would venture 

 out into daylight. 



These are the farthest eastern records for the species, which was first 

 discovered at Sierra Leone, and later found in the Kamerun and French 

 Congo. 



53. Nyctinomus cisturus Thomas. 



Only 3.75 inches (95 mm.) in length, it is chocolate-brown on its upper side 

 and only slightly grayer on the belly. From the fourth digit outward the 

 dark-colored wing membranes are nearly transparent, and the small band of 

 hair across their base on the lower side is pure white and very conspicuous. 

 Alongside the base of the tail below are scattered white hairs. Associated 

 with them are said to be peculiar glands present only in adult males. The 

 hair back of the interaural band is slightly longer but there is no crest. 



At Niangara this typical molossid was brought to us by a native who 

 claimed to have caught it when felling a hollow stump. It was formerly 

 recorded only from Mongalla on the White Nile. 



54. Nyctinomus ochraceus, sp. nov. 



The dark rich-brown hair on the upper side, with its silky luster, and 

 the bright orange ventral surface make it a rather conspicuously colored bat, 



