Two Species of Molossus. 01) 



serve to distinguish some species : the maximum is 32 or 34, 

 and the minimum 24 or 20. 



M. Temminck observes, that notwithstanding these differ- 

 ences in the teeth, there is no genus of animals, Fells and Pte- 

 ropus perhaps excepted, more natural than that of Dysopes or 

 Molossus in his view of it. He then gives the following natu- 

 ral character as first drawn up by Geoffroy, with some additions 

 of his own. 



" They may be easily recognised by their savage physiognomy 

 and the whole expression of their countenance; their large 

 head and broad muzzle had caused them to be compared to a 

 bulldog, and designated under the name of Molossus ; their 

 head is moreover increased in size by the ears, inclined over, 

 and almost resting upon the eyes, and appearing more fit to 

 protect the organ of sight, than to favor the perception of 

 sound ; they originate very near the commissure of the lips, 

 and after passing behind the auditory opening, they return for- 

 wards to unite together on the forehead. The greater part of 

 the Cheiroptera have the tragus of the ear placed in the audi- 

 tory opening, it forms a sort of second inner ear, which then 

 receives the name of auricle ; the Molossi differ from them by 

 having this auricle situated forward and outside : it is round 

 and pretty thick : in fine, the species of this genus may be fur- 

 ther recognised by their tail, which is long, but with only one 

 half engaged in the interfemoral membrane. Their tongue is 

 soft ; their muzzle not furnished with bristles ; and their nose 

 has none of those membranes or funnel shaped cavities which 

 distinguish the Vampyres, the Phyllostomes, &c. The nos- 

 trils are a little prominent, open in front, and bordered by a 

 raised edging. All the species have the hinder limbs very 

 short, the fibula perfect, often as thick as the tibia, and suited 

 by their divergence to serve for the attachment of the vigorous 

 muscles of their feet ; their toes nearly all equal, with short and 

 very crooked nails; all have silky hairs on their toes ; the outer 

 or inner toe of the hind feet more or less free from the others, 



