166 Air. Montagu's Account of some Species of Bats. 



jaw, which arc not to be found in the V. minutus; a circumstance 

 that seems to have escaped most naturalists, this genus beinj? 

 usually placed in the division destitute of upper fore teeth: the 

 canine teeth arc also much stronger in proportion in V. Ferritin- 

 equinum than in the other species. 



Linnaeus, when he placed the Bats in the first order of Mam~ 

 malia, doubtless considered the whole genus to agree in pos- 

 sessing two pectoral teats, and no others ; and that opinion 

 seems to have been confirmed by succeeding naturalists as far 

 as treading in the path of so great a physiologist may be con- 

 sidered as a proof of the fact. It must, however, be acknow- 

 ledged that we should do well, if, at the same time we admire the 

 wisdom and consummate skill of others, we were to recollect 

 that circumstances do not always concur to throw all the light 

 upon a subject that might be desired, and that the wisest and 

 most skilful philosopher is not proof against mortal fallibility. 



Those who are in the habit of searching minutely into the se- 

 crets of nature, well know how necessary it is to be cautious in 

 admitting of general rules. 



That the appearance of two pectoral teats in the Bat genus, 

 without any others contiguous, should lead to a conviction that 

 they were the only papilla? such animals possessed, may easily 

 be conceived ; but chance frequently develops what the most 

 scrutinizing eye has sought for in vain. 



While I was searching for some curious insects which were ob- 

 served to move with unusual celerity amongst the fur of these Bats*', 

 the pectoral papilla? of one of the V. minutus were very conspi- 

 cuous by the space round them being bare, as if the animal had 

 recently suckled its young ; and to my utter astonishment, on 

 turning the fur over in every direction, I discovered two other 



* Cekripes FespertiUonis 3 a newly discovered insect. 



teats 



