Leaf-Nosed Fruit Bat 



hind feet, in some dark building, cave, or hollow tree. In 

 winter many bats hibernate in similar quarters, but there is also 

 a southward migration of certain species, like that of the birds. 



The voice of bats is exceedingly high-pitched and squeaking, 

 and is most often heard when they have been captured or dis- 

 turbed during retirement in the day-time. 



In such of our eastern bats as have been studied during the 

 breeding season, two young seem to be the regular number in 

 each litter, and they are usually born in July. 



Our American bats represent three families, as follows : 



I. Leaf-nosed Bats. Family Phyllostomatida. Size large, tail usually 



wanting, a curious leaf-like appendage on the end of the nose. 



II. Free-tailed Bats. Family Noctilionidce. Size rather small, 



tail present but the terminal half free from the interfemoral 



membrane, projecting beyond it. No appendage on the nose. 



III. Common Bats. Family Vespertilionidce. Similar to the last 



but with the interfemoral membrane reaching to the tip of 



the tail. 



LEAF-NOSED BATS 



(Family PJiyllostomatida) 



Leaf-Nosed Fruit Bat 



Artibeus perspicillatns (Linnaeus) 



Length. 2.75 inches. 



Description. Head broad and thick, nose-leaf, consisting of a 

 high-pointed central lobe and two smaller lateral ones 

 separated from the middle one by the nostrils. No tail. 

 Interfemoral membrane reaching to the ankles, but much 

 hollowed out in the middle. Colour, deep brown or gray, 

 with more or less ashy tips to the fur. 



Range. Tropical America, north of Key West, Florida. 



This is only a rare straggler to our southernmost coast, and 

 is the only representative of the leaf-nosed or vampire bats that 

 we have in the eastern United States, though one occurs in 

 California and another in Texas. 



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