Pale spear-nosed bat Pale spear-nosed bat The pale spear-nosed bat "(Phyllostomus discolor)" is a species of phyllostomid bat from South and Central America. Pale spear-nosed bats are relatively robust for bats. Adults range from in total length, with an average wingspan of . Males are significantly larger than females, weighing an average of , compared with . The fur is variable in colour, and may range from a pale yellowish brown to a much darker, almost blackish shade, over most of the body. The chest and belly are much paler, varying from near white to frosted grey. The wings are large, with rounded
A Whiter Shade of Pale phrase stuck in his mind. The original lyrics had four verses, of which only two are heard on the original recording. The third verse has been heard in live performances by Procol Harum, and more seldom also the fourth. Claes Johansen, in his book "Procol Harum: Beyond the Pale", suggests that the song "deals in metaphorical form with a male/female relationship which after some negotiation ends in a sexual act". This is supported by Tim de Lisle in "Lives of the Great Songs", who remarks that the lyrics concern a drunken seduction, which is described through references to sex as