DESMODUS.—DIPHYLLA. 53 
Hab. Mexico (Deppe, Mus. Berol.), Oaxaca (Mus. Brit.4); Guatemata (Mus. Berol.), 
Dueitias (Salvin, Mus. Brit.4).—Ecuapor*; Peru+; Braziu?; Paracuay!; CHILi>. 
It has already been observed that the accusation of blood-sucking has been brought 
against many of the so-called ‘“ Vampires;” but trustworthy observers have now 
clearly proved that the present species and the allied Diphylla ecaudata are the true 
culprits. The first positive scientific testimony against Desmodus was that of Mr. Darwin, 
who brought home a specimen which was caught red-handed on the withers of a horse 
in his own presence®. Since then the negative evidence of Mr. Bates * and Professor 
Reinhardt +, and the anatomical investigations of the latter and of Professors Huxley ¢ 
and Peters), have been confirmed and completed by the conclusive testimony of Dr. 
Hensel ||, who clearly showed that the wounds of Bat-sucked beasts could only be 
inflicted by the peculiar teeth of the Desmodontes, and were identical with those which 
he himself received in the capture of D. rufus. He believes that, in the absence of 
Horses or Mules, these Bats prey on small Rodents and on-Birds. 
The range of Desmodus rufus extends from Chili in the south to Guatemala and 
Southern Mexico, from both of which countries there are specimens in the British and 
Berlin Museums. 
19. DIPHYLLA. 
Diphylla, Spix, Sim. et Vesp. Bras. p. 68 (1828). 
This, the last of our numerous genera of Central-American Bats, is closely allied to 
Desmodus; but it is distinguished by the non-development of the interfemoral mem- 
brane in the middle portion, by the presence of a short calcaneum, by the breadth of 
the lower incisors, and by the possession of a single true molar on each side, above and 
below, though the last are merely rudimentary. ‘The only known species is reddish- 
brown above and yellowish-white beneath ; its forearm measures about 2 inches. 
1. Diphylla ecaudata. (Tab. III. fig. 6.) 
Diphylla ecaudata, Spix, Sim. et Vesp. Bras. p. 68, pl. xxxvi. fig. 7 (1823, descr. orig.)'; Dobson, 
Cat. Chir. Brit. Mus. p. 5507. 
Hab. Guatemata (Salvin, Mus. Berol.).—Ecvapor ; Braz}. 
Little has been heard of this Bat since its discovery in Brazil by Spix; and the most 
northern locality hitherto recorded has been Ecuador, whence Mr. Fraser sent a speci- 
men which had been taken, in the act of sucking a man’s blood, on the Rio Napo4, 
Professor Peters, however, informs me that there is a specimen in the Berlin Museum, 
* Nat. on R. Amazons, ii. pp. 332, 333. + Vidensk. Meddel. 1865, pp. 241-244, 
+ P.Z.8. 1865, pp. 386-390. § Tom. cit. p. 389. 
|| Zool. Garten, 1869, pp. 135-140. @ Tomes, P. Z. 8. 1860, p. 212. 
