SEZEKORN'S LEAF BAT. 
335 
Redman's Bat ( MonophyUvs Redmanii ), in which the head and body measure about two inches and 
one-sixth in length. The expanse of wing is about twelve inches ; the fur, which is thick, soft, and 
glossy, is greyish-brown above with the tips of the hairs slightly hoary, and dusky grey tipped with 
greyish- white on the lower surface. The membranes are dark brown. This species occurs in Jamaica 
and Cuba. 
It was found by Mr. Osburn at Cairo, in J amaica. He describes it as exceedingly fierce, drawing 
blood readily from the back of the hand of its captor. Its activity was beyond anything he had seen 
in Chiroptera. It ran round the box in which it was placed by a series of little jumps, with almost the 
quickness of a Mouse, and jumped with the agility of a bird. “ On placing it under a glass,” he says, 
“after its first efforts had a little subsided, I saw its tongue projected very rapidly to the board. It 
seemed to me to be using an additional sense to ascertain the nature of the unusual substance on 
which it was resting. It frequently stretched its neck and head upwards, the nose-leaf and round ears 
in motion, as if trying to ascertain whether there was an aperture above, its bright little eyes piercing 
with eagerness, and panting like a Mouse.” Mr. Osburn’s observations on the specimens which he 
had in captivity seem to lead to the conclusion that this Bat feeds on soft fruits, and that its long and 
peculiar tongue is employed in sucking up their pulp. 
Ischnoglossa nivalis has the incisors in pahs and no tail. The described specimen was obtained 
near the snow line on the Pic d’ Orizaba, in Mexico. 
SEZEKORN’S LEAF BAT# 
The genus to which this Bat belongs is distinguished from all the preceding ones in the group of 
(Hossophagce by the absence or imperfection of the zygomatic arch in the skull. In its dentition it 
resembles Glossophagce . The interfemoral membrane is merely a narrow border round the legs, and the v 
calcaneal spurs are very short, or altogether wanting. There is a very short tail, which, however, 
projects beyond the interfemoral membrane; the nose-leaf is extremely short, or, indeed, almost 
rudimentary ; and the tongue is very long, pointed, and armed at the sides towards the tip with acute 
spines turned backwards. This species was discovered in Cuba ; it occurs also in Jamaica.! 
In the latter island Mr. Osburn found it inhabiting a cave in immense numbers, flying about 
and swarming on the roof and walls like Bees in a hive. The floor of the cavern was covered with 
bread-nut kernels and munched berries of the clammy cherry ( Cordia collocasia). The Bat chirps and 
squeaks like a bird. 
Mr. Osburn describes its manners in confinement as follows : — At first the Bats were restless and 
fierce, biting violently. When exhausted and quiet he gave them water, which “ they drank eagerly, 
protruding the tongue — the lip hollowed spoon-sliape, and the bristles evidently taking up a great 
quantity.” The fruit of the clammy. cherry being offered to them, they took no notice of it until Mr. 
Osburn thought of breaking the skin, when the one he presented it to at last seemed to understand the 
position of affairs, and licked at it vigorously. “ The tongue,” says Mr. Osburn, “ was rapidly pro- 
truded and drawn in again, and the juice and softer pulp cleared away with great rapidity. I noticed 
that he was very particular in cleaning out the bit of loose skin of the berry, and licked my fingers of the 
juice spilt on them, carefully cleaning out any that had collected under the nail. The sensation was 
not at all unpleasant, the tongue feeling soft and spongy, with a slight scratching from the bristles. I 
then got another berry. The Bat was hanging from the edge of the box, its ventral surface against the 
side ; and as I held the berry a little off, so as to see the action of the tongue, it had, whilst feeding, 
to bend the neck, so as to raise the head a little. This seemed to fatigue it. It therefore raised itself 
on one wrist, and turned round, so that its back was against the box’s side ; but as it did not change 
the position of the feet, of course the legs crossed In this odd position it seemed perfectly 
at ease, and went on licking at a fresh berry with great relish It seized it with its teeth 
savagely, and then shifted it to one side of the mouth, so that the long sharp canines of one side and the 
blunt molars held the berry This left room for the tongue still to be protruded ; for from 
the arrangement of the minute lower incisors in a concave, the molars can be nearly closed, so as to 
# Phyllony clevis Sezekornii. 
f Poey’s Leaf Bat {Phyllony ctei'is Poeyi) is a second species inhabiting Cuba. 
