88o 



PHYLUM CHORDATA : CLASS MAMMALIA 



Sub-Order Megachiroptera. 



Frugivorous bats, usually large. 



The molars have smooth crowns, 



with a longitudinal groove. 

 The thumb is clawed, and generally 



also the second digit. 

 The tail, if present, is below, not 

 bound up with the interfemoral 

 membrane. 

 The pyloric part of the stomach is 



in most cases much elongated. 

 Found in warm and tropical parts 



of the eastern hemisphere. 

 Examples. — 



The " flying-foxes " or fox-bats 

 (Pteropus), large, tailless bats, 

 distributed from Madagascar 

 to India, Ceylon, Malay, 

 S. Japan, Australia, Poly- 

 nesia. The largest species 

 (P. edulis) measures 5 ft. 

 across its spread wings. Den- 



i-i- 2132 

 tition, — ^. 

 2133 

 In India, Cynoptenis margtnatus 

 is very common. Xantharpyia 

 csgyptiaca inhabits the Pyra- 

 mids. 



Sub-Order Microchiroptera. 



Usually insectivorous bats, small 



in size. 

 The molars have cusped crowns, 



with transverse grooves. 

 In the hand the thumb only is 



clawed. 

 The tail, if present, is bound up 

 with the interfemoral membrane, 

 or lies along its upper surface. 

 Except in one family, the stomach 



is simple. 

 Found in the tropical and temper- 

 ate regions of both hemispheres. 

 Examples. — 



The horseshoe-bats {Rhinolo- 

 phiis) ; the common pipistrelle 

 (Vesperngo pipistrellus) ; the 

 genus Vespertilio, with four 

 British species ; Vampyrus 

 spectrum, a large Brazilian 

 form, which seems to have been 

 erroneously credited with 

 blood - sucking habits ; the 

 common vampire (Desmodus 

 fufus), an American bat — a 

 formidable blood-sucker. 



Order PROSiMiiE {Syn. Lemuroidea, Lemurs) 



These monkey-like animals are sometimes ranked with 

 monkeys as a sub-order of Primates ; but there seems 

 more warrant for placing them in a separate order. They 

 agree with monkeys in many respects, e.g. in having pollex 

 and hallux opposable, flattened digits, pectoral mammae 

 (except in Chiromys), and a " Simian fissure " in the brain. 

 They differ from monkeys (Anthropoidea) in the following 

 points : The cranial cavity is usually elongated, and the 

 face more fox-like than monkey-like ; the orbit opens 

 freely into the temporal fossa (except in Tarsius) ; the 

 lachrymal foramen lies in front of the orbit ; the first pair 

 of upper incisors is separated in the middle line (except in 

 Tarsius) ; the second digit of the foot always bears a pointed 



