BRITISH MAMAIALS 



(the lip is hairy and cloven) is horizontal, and shaped like a 

 horseshoe. This is divided in the middle by the same septum as 

 cleaves the upper lip. Behind the horseshoe is a deep depression, 

 in which the nostrils are situated. Between the nostrils, from the 

 septum of the nose, rises the second portion of the leaf. This 

 presents a cup-like hollow, where it rises from the septum of the 

 nose, and then, after a contraction and expansion, ends in a sharp 

 point which is raised above the third section of the leaf This 

 last lies under the horseshoe at its base, and is of the same 

 breadth, but narrows and finally tapers to a point on the forehead. 

 Undoubtedly one use of the nose leaf is to act as a receiver 

 of sensations and enable the bat to 

 thread its way through the most intricate 

 passages without using its small and 

 inconspicuous eyes. A horseshoe bat 

 turned loose in a room, for instance, 

 will, unlike most other bats under 

 similar conditions, avoid with perfect 

 ease every kind of object, without ever 

 coming into direct contact with any- 



NosE Leaf of Greater Horse- 

 shoe Bat in Profile (slightly 

 larger than natural size). 



thing. But the nose leaf is also due 



to that craving for the development 

 of ornament common to most animals. Bats of the family 

 Phyllostomatid^ decorate not only their noses, but also their 

 under and upper lips. 



The ears of the Greater Horseshoe Bat are rather large, and 

 broad at the base. The inner margin is much curved, and ends 

 in a sharp point, which is a good deal turned outwards. The 

 conch of the ear is marked by about twelve transverse ridges. 

 On the outside of the ear conches grows a little fine hair, which 

 becomes a thick fringe of fur along the inner margin. The 

 forehead and cheeks are thickly clothed with hair, and the eyes 

 are small and nearly hidden between the hair of the forehead 

 and the cheeks, and the large raised nose leaf The head and 

 body of this bat measure a little over 2^ in. in length. The 

 tail is about if in. 



