52 CHIROPTERA. 
species, “ of which females alone appear to have been hitherto obtained”*. But Professor 
Peters has pointed out to me that this is a mistake, the type of C. flavogularis (= C. 
senex) being an adult male, as is another specimen of C. senex in the Berlin Museum. 
It is possible, however, that Mr. Dobson is right, and that the peculiarities of C. mac- 
murtrii are male characters which are only developed at particular seasons. But till 
this is shown to be the case it will be best to treat the species as distinct. 
The type specimen is the only one hitherto recorded ; but Dr. Peters informs me that 
the Berlin Museum has recently obtained a second, also a male, from Guatemala ; and 
he has kindly sent me a beautifully finished drawing of its very remarkable physio- 
enomy, from which our figure has been carefully copied. 
. 18. DESMODUS. 
Desmodus, Max. zu Wied, Beitr. Nat. Brasil. ii. p. 231 (1826). 
This genus, with its close ally Diphylla, forms the group or subfamily Desmodontes 
of Peters and Dobson. So greatly do these genera differ from all other Bats in the 
structure of their alimentary system that they have been held by Professor Huxley and 
others to form a third primary division of the Order{, equivalent to the fruit-eating 
and insectivorous sections. On the other hand, they agree closely with other Phyllo- 
stomide in the rest of their structure ; and Professor Peters has pointed that the Steno- 
dermine genera, as here arranged, show a gradual approach to their peculiar dentition. 
In external appearance Desmodus is not strikingly different from the tailless Steno- 
dermes, the nose-leaf being small but distinct, and the interfemoral membrane reduced 
toa mere margin. The single pair of upper incisors are enormously large, and are 
shaped like canines; the four lower cutting-teeth are small; and the grinders, two 
above and three below, are narrow single-rooted premolars, true molars being absent. 
The cesophagus is much constricted ; and the cardiac portion of the stomach is very 
strangely developed, being produced into a long tubular cecum. All these pecu- 
liarities have evident connexion with the food of the animal, which, as will be seen 
below, appears to consist entirely of the blood of other vertebrates. 
The only species now recognized is a large Bat, with a wing-expanse of about 
15 inches and a forearm of about 2’°50; the fur is reddish-brown and the membranes 
dusky. 
1. Desmodus rufus. 
Vespertilio spectrum, Azara, Hist. Nat. Quad. Paraguay, 11. p. 273 (nec Linn.)’. 
Desmodus rufus, Max. 2u Wied, Beitr. Nat. Brasil. 11. p. 282 (1826, descr. orig.), Abbild. pl. xvii.’; 
Tomes, P. Z.8. 1861, p. 278°; Dobson, Cat. Chir. Brit. Mus. p. 547, pl. xxx. fig. 7*. 
Desmodus d’orbignyi, Waterhouse, Zool. Voy. ‘ Beagle,’ Mamm. p. 1, pl. i. (1839, descr. orig.)’. 
* Cat. Chir. Brit. Mus. p. 543. t Cf Monatsb. Ak. Berl. 1854, p. 885; Abh. 1854, p. 88. 
{ Hematophilina (Waterhouse), Huxley, P. Z. 8. 1865, p. 388. 
