Ward—The Variations in Proportions in Bats. 635 
point is a sort of rotunda about 200 feet in diameter by perhaps 
50 feet in height. Slanting down at a moderately steep grade 
is a tunnel extending only a few rods before it is choked with 
soil that apparently has been deposited by water entering the 
hole in the roof. In the opposite direction the tunnel, sloping 
upward, extends for an unknown distance and is of ample di¬ 
mensions, perhaps 30 feet in width by the same in height, very 
regular in section and but slightly serpentine in direction. The 
temperature was decidedly hot and the atmosphere close and 
oppressive. For some distance a faint glimmer of light, re¬ 
flected from the rotunda, furnished sufficient illumination until 
a change in the pitch of the tunnel shut off this supply and we 
were forced to light our candles. A few desultory squeaks, now 
near, now far away, increasing in number as we advanced, the 
flitting of shadowy wings and an occasional swish as one came 
near our ears, showed that the bats were alive to our presence. 
Shading our candles, we could see a short distance ahead, 
and there, clinging feet uppermost to the sides of the cave, from 
roof almost to the floor, were bats as far as we could see. Those 
near by and on the lower levels, with their heads thrown up, 
were standing on their wrists with bodies clear of the walls, 
ready to let loose and fly away at a moment’s warning. By 
making stealthy, rapid sorties we were able to capture a number 
with our hands; but were more interested in noting the method¬ 
ical manner in which they disposed themselves—each species 
in a band of some feet or yards in width; then a slight vacant 
space, followed by a band of another species. Hand collecting 
was rather slow, and time was pressing; so we tried a few shots 
to good effect. The roar and concussion started the bats by the 
myriad, and in a moment the air was filled with thousands of 
flying forms. Instantly our candles were blown out by the 
wind from their wings, and in the Stygian darkness we were 
continually struck severe blows in the face and body by these 
living missiles, the roar of whose wings mingled with their 
shrieks was as deafening as the passage of an express train in 
a railway tunnel. For a moment it seemed impossible to stand 
against the storm of swirling and eddying bats that in their 
wild career seemed to have entirely lost their usual knack of 
avoiding objects. Soon the roar quieted so that I could hear 
T'eran shouting to me not over twenty feet away. He was a 
high-strung, nervous lad, and that moment’s experience had put 
