Image from the Biodiversity Heritage Library.
Contributed by Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley.
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Transcription
Murray
1948
Natalus mexicanus
May 24 Las Cerevas, 23°34'N, 109°39'W, Baja Calif.
Found a large cave here, washed out of
the high sandstone cliff along the river
bed. There were two main chambers, extending
back about 120 feet in all. At the rear there
was a crevice which broadened out into
space for many Natalus hanging close together.
We caught a total of 53, probably close to
2/3 of the number present. Several were
a bright orange color. On the wall and
celing were very many Myotis velifer,
and a few Macrothus californicus on the top.
Also on the ceiling, grouped together, were
several more Natalus. We estimated the total
number at very roughly 15,000 of all the
species. (See journal)
June 7 La Tenaja, 5 mi SE Punta Gasparina, Baja Calif.
Went up the Arroyo de la Tenaja to this
place, a small muddy pool about 2 x 6 feet
and fed by another smaller pool close to it.
The Natalus arrived when almost dark —
a few times 2 or 3 together, usually just
1 at a time. One would fly around for
a few minutes and leave, then soon it
or another would return. Almost always
they flew very low, within 2 or 3 inches of
the ground, and very swiftly and elusively.
Often they wound in and out of the bushes.