The Bats of the Murray and Darling all belong to the family Vespertilionidæ, as the large so-called "Vampire Bat" or "Flying Fox" (Pteropus) is not found in those regions.

Owing to the superstitions of the natives, who look upon every Bat as a departed friend and relative, who according to their ideas with regard to the transmigration of souls, has seen better days among themselves, has thrown spear and boomerang, and feasted upon Kangaroo, Wallaby, and Emeu, the number of Bats collected during my journey was very limited indeed.

When at Gunbower Creek I caught the first of these creatures, and I was seriously informed by the natives, that it was "brother belonging to black-fellow, who will kill lubra if you kill him."

Farther down the river this superstition vanished more and more; still they never assisted in procuring specimens of this family.

The following are the species collected:—