SEZEKORN’S LEAF BAT.[242]
The genus to which this Bat belongs is distinguished from all the preceding ones in the group of Glossophogæ by the absence or imperfection of the zygomatic arch in the skull. In its dentition it resembles Glossophagæ. The interfemoral membrane is merely a narrow border round the legs, and the 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.[243]
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-shape, 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 protruded 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 hold an object, and the tongue still have room for protrusion. The little body trembled with the eagerness of his actions. As the pulp and juice it could thus reach became exhausted, I expected it would drop it; but, to my surprise, it brought up the wrists to the muzzle, took the berry between them, gave it two or three energetic bites, and then held the berry off. So I now understood what the long thumbs were for; for they applied themselves dexterously to the berry, held it firmly, and then, as it appeared to me, by a reverse action of the two wrists, the berry was turned round, a fresh hold taken by the teeth, and the same licking process renewed, till the seed in the centre was cleaned of the pulp, all but the little bit which served for the last tooth-hold. It was then dropped, and the eager little muzzle raised for more. I supplied another, and soon I had a little heap of seeds, exactly like those found in the cave.” This account is particularly interesting, and gives us a clear idea of the proceedings of these curious Bats. Mr. Osburn remarks that the Bats when holding the berries greatly reminded him of Monkeys, and on placing them among the twigs of the cherry, their climbing habits seem to have increased the resemblance.[244]
THE SPECTACLED STENODERM.[245]
A peculiar group of this family is formed by the genus Stenoderma and its allies. In these Bats the muzzle is short, and the molar teeth do not show the W-like pattern characteristic of the preceding forms, but generally have some sharp points and a cutting edge on the outside. The tail, when present, is very short, and the interfemoral membrane is deeply cut out behind, so much so in many cases as to form a mere narrow border to the legs. The nasal appendages consist of a lance-shaped leaf springing from the middle of a regular horseshoe; and the ears are separate, and furnished with a tragus. The Stenoderms have been divided by authors into several genera, but the characters upon which these are founded are for the most part so minute and uncertain that it would be a mere waste of time to attempt to give them here.
The Spectacled Stenoderm (see [p. 264]) is one of the best-known species of this group, and inhabits the larger islands of the West Indies, such as Cuba, St. Domingo, and Jamaica, as well as the continental regions of Guiana and Brazil. It is a large species, measuring from four inches to four inches and a half in length, and from sixteen inches to twenty inches in expanse of wing. Its fur is brown, and there is a whitish arch above each eye. The nose-leaf, although lance-shaped, is somewhat oblong in its form, having the sides nearly parallel for some distance; and the wing-membranes are black. There is no tail. The species belongs to the sub-genus Artibeus.
This species usually inhabits caves and recesses in the rocks, in the former case generally keeping near the mouth of the cave; but when the geological structure of a district is unfavourable for the formation of caves, it takes up its abode during the day under the fronds of the cocoa-nut palm. At Aquatta Vale, in Jamaica, Mr. Osburn found these Bats clustering on the cocoa-nut trees so thickly, and in such numbers, that a single shot brought down twenty-two, while many others flew off, and took refuge in neighbouring trees. The food of this species consists of various fruits, the seeds and kernels of which are seen in abundance on the floors of the places where they repose during the day. Mr. Osburn mentions the bread-nut (Brosimum), the negro-cherry (Cordia callococca), the mango, and the rose-apple (Eugenia jambos), as fruits upon which it feeds in Jamaica. He also obtained from the intestines of several specimens numerous small seeds, which he believed to be those of the fustic (Morus tinctoria). The same observer noticed a curious habit of the species when alarmed—the little round ears were kept in a state of rapid motion, but alternately, so as to produce an effect like that of a person rolling his eyes different ways. The nose-leaf was also slightly moved.
THE JAMAICAN STENODERM.[246]
This is very nearly allied to the preceding species, from which it differs in its smaller size, being only about two inches and a half long, and in the form of the nose-leaf, which is lance-shaped, with regularly curved margins. It varies considerably in colour, but is usually of various shades of brown.