MAMMALIA. 477 



whicli is inflated and split into a double hare-lip, covered with old looking 

 warts and seams. The ears are separated. There are four incisors above 

 and two below. The tail is short, and free above the inter-femoral mem- 

 brane. There are two species of this genus in tropical America. 



The genus Phyllostoma (javelin bats) possess four incisors in each jaw, 

 some of which fall off by the growth of the canines. The genus is more- 

 over distinguished by a membrane resembling a double leaf that is placed 

 crosswise on the end of the nose. The tongue is very extensible, terminated 

 in papilke, which appear to be so arranged as to form an organ of suction. 

 Symmetrically arranged tubercles are also observed on the lips. Upwards 

 of twelve species of this genus are known to inhabit tropical America, to 

 which country the genus is completely limited, and where a fossil species 

 has also been discovered in the caverns. 



In the genus Vam.pyrus the tail is absent ; in other respects it resembles 

 the preceding. One species only belongs to it, V. sj^edriim (pi 117, ßg. 8), 

 and this is peculiar to the new world, and more especially to troj)ical 

 America. Its wings measure two or three feet across when expanded. 



The genus Glossophaga (long-tongued bats, differs from Phyllostoma by 

 a narrow tongue, susceptible of elongation, and furnished with hair-like 

 papillas. Four species are known, and all of them belong to tropical 

 America. 



The genus Megaderma (the broad-winged bats) has the leaf-like mem- 

 brane of the nose more complicated than that of Phyllostoma. The ears 

 are very large, and united on the top of the head. The tongue and lips 

 are smooth; the inter-femoral membrane is entire, and the tail absent. 

 There are four incisors below, but none above. The genus belongs entirely 

 to the old continent ; species are found in Africa and in the Indian Archi- 

 pelago. From the latter locality is M. lyra {pi. Ill, fig. 7). 



The genus Plecotus (long-eared bats) has ears larger than the head, and 

 united on the cranium as is the case in Megaderma. P. timoriensis 

 {pi. 117, fig. 2) belongs here. Two species of this genus inhabit North 

 America, one in the southern States {P. lecontii), and the other in Oregon 

 {P. toivnsendi). 



In the genus Rhinolophus (the horse shoe bats), the nose is furnished 

 with very complex crests and membranes laid upon the chanfrain, pre- 

 senting the figure of a horse-shoe ; the tail is long, and placed in the 

 inter-femoral membrane. This genus is very numerous in species, all of 

 which belong to the old continent; example, R. ferrum cquinum, {pi. 117, 

 fig. 6). A fossil species very nearly allied to it is found in the tertiary 

 deposits of Germany. 



In the genus Nycteris (cheek-pouched bats) the forehead is furrowed by 

 a longitudinal groove, which is even marked upon the cranium, and bor- 

 dered by a fold of the skin which partly covers it. The nostrils are simple; 

 there are four incisors above and six below ; the ears are large and sepa- 

 rated, and the tail involved in the inter-femoral membrane. The species 

 are African and Asiatic. 



The genus Nyctophilus includes only one species, which inhabits the 



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