^r.\^f^rALr.i. 431 



sucking from a lar2;p and still lilocdinp; wound under and bcliind tlic oar ; and tlic 

 very obviously suctoiial form of the mouth of tlic Vampire was of itself suttieient to 

 hint the strong probability of such being the case. Durinfi; the very short time that 

 elapsed before 1 entered the outhouse, it did not ajipear that the depredator had once 

 alighted, and I am satistied that it sucked the vital fluid from its victim as it flew, 

 having probably seized it on the wing, and that it was seeking a (juiet nook where it 

 might devour the body at leisure. I kept both animals separate till next morning, 

 when procuring a convenient cage, I first put in the Megaderma, and after observing 

 it for some time, I placed the other Bat with it. No sooner was the latter perceived, 

 than the other fastened xipon it, with the ferocity of a tiger, again seizing it behind 

 the ear, and made several efforts to fly oft' with it, but fiudiiig it must needs stay 

 within the precincts of the cage, it soon liuug by the hind legs to one side of its prison, 

 and after sucking its victim, till no more blood was left, commenced devouring it, and 

 soon loft nothing bnt the head and some portions of the limbs." 



Both frogs and s]iarrows would also seem to form the prey of the larger bats, to 

 judge by the remains of nocturnal feasts in the form of bones and feathers, wliich are 

 sometimes seen in the verandahs of houses tenanted by them. 



Family Vesper tilionidae. 



Bats with simple nostrils, unprovided with leaflets (save a rudimentary ap- 

 pendage in Xyctophilax), with moderately developed generally separate ears. Eyes 

 minute. 



Plecotus, Gcoffroy. 



Ears united above the forehead, very large. Nostrils opening on the upper 

 surface, at the extremity of the muzzle, in front of semilunar naked depressions. 

 Tail almost wholly inclosed within the interferaoral membrane. Post-calcaneal lobe 

 distinct. 



Dentition, I. * ; C. f ; P.M. J ; M. f. 



P. iioMocnRous, Hodgson. 



Fur basally both above and below dark ; on the upper surface light shining 

 brown ; beneath, pale ashy or dirty white ; occasionally there is a reddish tinge over 

 the back, and specimens from dry and desert regions are paler than those captured in 

 moister countries. This species is, in Dobson's opinion, only a subspecies or race of 

 /'. auritus, L., distinguished by the greater length of the ears and comparative short- 

 ness of the thumbs. 



Length of head and body, T" ; tail, 17 inches. 



Inhabits the Ilinuilaya and Khasi Hills, not improbably ranging into Arakan. 



Synotus, Keyserliug and Blasius. 



Ears conjoined at the bases of their inner margins, which meet on the forehead 

 slightly in front of the eyes ; the outer margin is also carried forwards, in front of 

 the eyes, terminating on the face above the upper lip, so that the eye is contained 

 within the external ear. 



Dentition, I. * ; C. S ; P.M. i ; M. f . 



S. Dartflinensis, Dobson. 



The cars laid forward, extend nearly one-tenth of an inch beyond the end of the 

 muzzle, as in the European ' Harbastelle,' but the outer margin has no ])rojcctiiig 

 lobe, at the junction of its upper and middle third, and is uninterrupted by any 

 abrupt projection from the tip to its termination above the mouth. Tlie tip rounded 

 oft', not truncated. 



Length of adult female — lu^ad and body 2'0; tail 1-8 inches. 



Inhabits the Himalayas, Sikkim, the Khasi Hills and probably ranges into Arakan. 



Vespkkugo, Keyserling and Blasius. 



Eai-s separate, generally much shorter than the head, broad and triangular, the 

 outer margin extending forwards beyond the base of the tragus, the internal basal 



