672 



CHIROPTERA 



It has been suggested that remains from the Upper Eocene Phos- 

 phorites of Central France may indicate the existence of the genus 

 Taphozous at that early epoch. 



Family Phyllostomatid.e. 



Middle finger with three well -developed bony phalanges ; first 

 phalanx of the middle finger short ; nostrils in the front part of the 

 cutaneous nasal appendages, or opening by simple apertures at 

 the extremity of the muzzle ; chin with warts or erect cutaneous 

 ridges ; premaxillse well developed, united in front. 



The members of this family are readily distinguished by the 

 third phalanx in the middle finger, associated either with distinct 

 cutaneous nasal appendages, or with well -developed first upper 

 incisors, or with both. Unlike the Rhinolophidce, their eyes are 

 generally large ; and the tragus is well developed, maintaining 

 almost the same form throughout the species, however much the 

 other parts of the body may vary. The fur is of a dull colour, and 

 the face and back (in the Stenoclermatine division especially) are often 

 marked with white streaks, as in the Pteropodhlce, of which these 

 Bats take the place in the western hemisphere. A few species, 

 probably all those with the tail and interfemoral membrane well 

 developed, feed principally on insects, while the greater number of 

 the species of the Vampirine and Glossophagine divisions appear to 

 live on a mixed diet of insects and fruits ; and the Desmodontine 

 division, of which two species only are known, are true blood- 

 suckers, and have their teeth and intestinal tract specially modified 

 in accordance with their habits. The family is restricted to the 

 tropical and subtropical parts of Central and South America. 



Subfamily Chilonyeteriinse. — Nostrils opening by simple aper- 

 tures at the extremity of 

 the muzzle in front, not 

 margined by a distinct nose- 

 leaf ; chin with expanded 

 leaf- like appendages. It 

 includes two genera. 



Chilonycteris} — Dentition: 

 ih c\,p%,m%; total 34. 

 The crown of the head is 

 moderately elevated above 

 the facial line, and the basi- 

 cranial axis is almost in the 

 same plane as the facial. There are about half a dozen species. 

 Mormops. 2 — The two species of this genus are distinguished 



1 Gray, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. vol. iv. p. 4 (1839). 



2 Leach, Trans. Linn.Soc. vol. xiii. p. 76 (1820-22).— Amended. 



Fio. 31S. — Head of Mormops blainvillei. 

 Cat. Chiropt. Brit. Mas.) 



(Dobson, 



