26 M. de Blainville on the Classification and 



age, divided into three sub-genera, viz, 1*^, Noctilio, in which 

 the tail is engaged only near its base, and is free above the 

 membrane throughout the remaining portion, is distributed in- 

 to the two sub-genera, Taphozous or Taphien, and Noctilio, 

 2c?, Molossus (E. Geoffroy) whose tail in the same plane as the 

 membrane, is not accompanied by it at its terminal portion ; 

 and these may be subdivided from the consideration or absence 

 of the small superior false molar, into Molossus^ Cheiromeles, 

 and Myoptera or Dysopes. 3J, Vespertilio, whose tail is 

 wholly engaged quite to the extremity of the membrane ; this 

 group is composed of the sub-genera Emhallomira^ Furia, and 

 Vespertilio L. ; it subdivides itself into Scotophilus, Serotines, 

 Noctuloides, and Murinoides, Plecotus, and Nycticoecus, 



Having thus established the series of the Cheiroptera or fly- 

 ing Insectivora, as serving to connect in an evident manner the 

 Makis or the last family of the Primates^ with the moles and 

 hamsters, which ought to commence the grand series of the 

 Carnivora, the author shews, in treating of their present geo- 

 graphical distribution, that one of the branches of this family 

 is confined to the hot countries of the old hemisphere, but that 

 it belongs essentially to its insular parts, beginning in the Con- 

 tinent of Africa below Cairo, and terminating with the last 

 of the Australian Isles : these are the Roussettes. Another 

 branch, viz. the Stenodermes and Phyllostomes, compensate, as 

 it were, for this, and in fact are only found in South America, 

 whilst the remainder of this branch belongs exclusively to the 

 ancient Continent throughout. These are the Megadermes and 

 the other Rhinolophi. Finally, the last branch, that of the 

 Bats, is found in every part of the world, and ascends farthest 

 into the Arctic regions ; but only certain species of the genus 

 Vespertilio properly so called, and a single species of Molossus, 

 are found in Southern Europe, and there is also but one spe- 

 cies of Nycticoecus. 



Passing now to the antiquity of the Cheiroptera upon the 

 surface of the earth, M. de Blainville shews us that in the writ- 

 ings of Moses, bats are numbered among the impure animals 

 which the Israelites were not to eat ; and that, in hieroglyphics, 

 they are employed to indicate a nurse or mother suckling her in- 

 fant, &c. At the same time, it ought to be remarked, that ti>e 



