166 IOWA STUDIES IN NATURAL HISTORY 
the rock; and I found myself alone in the most utter darkness, 
afraid to move in either direction for fear of falling into one of 
the great cracks at my feet. Thousands of bats were circling 
around and twittering in wild excitement with a constant whir- 
ring of wings. Every once in a while one would strike the cord, 
which would twang like a fiddle-string. For reasons perfectly 
obvious to those who know me, I had no fear of their becoming 
entangled in my hair, according to the popular superstition. I 
could hear various thumps and exclamations issuing from the 
Stygian darkness beyond, as the rest of the party whacked away 
with their dip-nets after the bats. It was hot and exhausting 
work and the air was simply stifling, rendering it unsafe to 
stay more than a few minutes. A reasonable number of bats 
were secured and placed in a tank where they were chloro- 
formed. The lights appeared in the distance, my companions 
climbed laboriously upward to where I still sat, and we all 
thankfully emerged into the pure air and sunlight of the upper 
world. 
On the way back we passed a region where logs of fossil wood 
were strewn over the ground, most of it silicified and its struc- | 
ture very well preserved. We took such specimens as we could 
earry and reached home about supper-time pretty well tuckered 
out. 
In the afternoon we usually worked over the material secured 
earlier in the day and after 4:30 were often occupied in enter- 
taining visitors, officials and planters usually, who came in 
automobiles and remained an hour or so according to local cus- 
tom. Governor Best spent the week-end several times at Clarence 
House where he entertained us at tea. He also honored us with 
a call soon after our arrival. 
July 4th was a memorable day with us. Soon after breakfast 
I received a telephone call from the Governor, who felicitated 
us on our national holiday and sent a message of hearty good 
will, which was but one of the many thoughful attentions shown 
us during our stay. A little later Mr. Potter, a resident of the 
village of English Harbor, called and desired an interview. 
_ He was very impressive in manner, bowed profoundly and said 
that he understood that this was ‘‘The American Xmas.’’ I 
informed him that we regarded it as a national rather than a 
