MACROfiT.OSSIX.K. 727 



genera, exce])t Ni/ctimene which has four (in Marsupialia *, a large 

 number of Insectivora t, and Rome Kodents * there are three of 

 these papillas, arranged in an isosceles or equilateral triangle, as in 

 all Megachiroptcra except Nyctimene ; note the variation in the 

 size of the posterior papilla in Megachiroptera, in many genera 

 onlj- equal to, in others (Ci/nopterus, >St'-non>/cie)-is) twice the size of, 

 the anterior ones : it is this posterior papilla which is split into two 

 in Nyctimene and, on the other hand, entirely suppressed in some 

 Insectivora and in all Microchiroptera, while in Desmodus all 

 circnmvallate paiillje have disappeared) : (5) the fungiform papilla 

 are few in number and confined chiefly or entirely to the posterior 

 half of the tongue. 



Characters of tongue of Macroglossinae (Sg. 65 I-L). — The tongue 

 in this small group of Fruit-bats is relatively longer than in the 

 PteropodiiKT, more extensible, fixed to the Hoor of the mouth onlv 

 by its posterior third, narrower and more evenly tapering to a point 

 anteriorly ; its terminal fourth or fifth is always covered with well- 

 developed nnfringcd filiform papillaj ; the foliacenus papilla- are 

 smaller and the foliaceous area of the tongue snfier, n)oie velvet 

 to the touch ; the fungiform i>a[)illje more numerous and not 

 confined to the posterior half of the tongue. 



In its most highly differentiated form this type of tongue is found 

 in J/acrof/higsHS (L), Megahglos^is, and K^ijcougcteris. In EoHi/cteris 

 (/) the tongue is broader (more Ilousettine) in shape, but with a 

 heavy coat of filitbrm papiilte at the tip. In Ne-s-oin/cteris and 

 Melongclcris the Qliiorm papillfe at the tip (while preserving their 

 true fililorra character) are much shorter than in JJacroglossus and 

 its allies. The extreme in the length of the tongue is reached by 

 Notopteris (measured from base of epiglottis about 4n mm., i.e. 

 more than i^ the length of the mandible). 



The difference between the Pleropine and Mdcroglossine tongue? 

 is decidedly only one of degree. No new element is introduced in 

 the structure of the Macroglossine tongue, and, as pointed out above, 

 the rteropiiie tongue exhibits any intorgradution from a complete 

 absence to a relatively strong development of filiform papillfp at tlie 

 tij); the only essential differential characters of the Macroglossine 

 tongue are its greater extensibility, its more narrowly pointed shape, 

 its heavier coat of filiform papilloD at the tip. and the total absence 

 of fringes iu these papillee (compare A' with G", fig. 65). 



In his 'Families and Genera of Bats' (p. 45, cf. p. 68 ; 1907), 

 Mr. Gorrit H. Miller characterizes \\ic Macritglossium {'■'• Kiodotino'"'), 

 in contradistinction to the Pteropodivo', as follows : — (1) Tongue 

 highly extensible; (2) molars and incisors considerably reduced 

 in size; (i<) brain-case strongly deflected; (4) upper surface of 

 mandibular symphysis parallel with alveolar line. It must be 



* Tiu'kennnn, " On the Gustatory Organs of some of the Maniinalia "' 

 .Tniirn Morpliol. (Boston), iv. p. l'.»2 (1801). 



'■ Dohs.m. A Moiioprn])h of tl>e Insectivora. pr/f^im M>*82 PI). 



