1894
March 30
(No 4)
Trinidad, B.W.I.
Caparo
  The Bats are all of one species (Molossus rufus) and it
is interesting to see how closely they resemble the Swifts
in general appearance and especially in their flight which
is quite as direct and if anything even more rapid than
that of the Swifts. Their wings make a stronger rushing
sound which can be heard at fully 100 yards distance
when the air is still. When shooting these Bats we actually
find it difficult to distinguish then from the Swifts
in time to fire [delete] shoot [/delete] before the creature has passed beyond
gun range. Swifts and Bats always appear together
and with great suddenness. You look about in every
direction and not one is to be seen. The next moment
there are hundreds dashing about in every direction,
at first low down, afterwards 100 feet or more above
the earth. The greater number remain in sight only some
fifteen or twenty minutes. They leave a few at a
time and do not appear to go in any particular
direction. A very few of the Bats linger until it is
really dark rising higher and higher as the shades
of night deepen.

  While watching the Swifts and Bats this morning I
suddenly saw among them what I at first took
to be a gigantic Swift. It was flying in a great
circle, moving its wings with that rapid, vibrating motion so
characteristic of the Swift's flight. It appeared to be
somewhat larger than a Martin and had a large head
and a short tail. After circling a few times it
made off over the woods when the whole throng of
Swifts and Bats started after it with shrill twittering
and squeaking. Hutton, who was with me, at once