OTOPTERUS. VAMPYRUS. 655 



The next genus contains the largest species of bat known in the 

 New World, the V. spectrum, which formerly bore a very bad repu- 

 tation, and was accused of sanguineous habits, but all such charges 

 have been proved false, as the animal is now known to subsist mainly 

 on fruits, and is harmless. 



142. Vaiiipyrus. 



Vampyrus Leach, Trans. Linn. Soc., xm, 1820, p. 79. Type 



Vespertilio spectrum Linnaeus. 



Muzzle long, narrow ; nose-leaf horseshoe form ; ridge on each side 

 of lower lip in front with a deep groove between; wings from base of 

 toes; tail not present, or very short; ears large, not connected; ear 

 conch, terminating in front of base of tragus; tragus long, external 

 marginal processes prominent ; outer lower incisors sometimes absent ; 

 molar with W-shaped cusps. 



FIG. 135. VAMPYRUS SPECTRUM. 

 Nat. size. Nose view enlarged V*. 



