

- 

a gig 
_. The form of the skull is extremely variable and affords a 
safe guide to the habits of the various species. Compare, for 
instance, the skulls of Cheronycteris and Chilonycteris. Most of 
the true bats have no post orbital frontal processes. The nasals 
are generally short and vary much in form: The most re- 
- markable differences are found in the form of the pre-maxillary 
bones. In Rhinolophide, they are rudimentary. The zygo- 
mas are well developed in the flying foxes, but are wanting in 
several species of true bats. The auditory bulle are usually 
large and well developed. The vertebral column is short. The 
dorsal vertebreenumber twelve or thirteen. The caudal verte- 
bre are cylindrical, without processes. There are also no 
_ spinous processes upon the cervicals and dorsals. The clavi- 
cles are strong and curved. The scapula is large, the post 
scapular fossa being much the larger, the spine is large, as are 
the. acromium and the coracoid. Although the humerus is 
long, it is greatly exceeded by the bones of the forearm and 
all these bones have large medullary cavities. The ulnar is 
rudimentary; the scaphoid, lunar and cuneiform bones are 
united. 
The thumb terminates in a claw as does the index in many 
3 forms. The pelvis is weak. The pubic bones are widely sep- 
arated in the females. The fibula is often rudimentary. The 
calcaneum forms a long cartilaginous process or spur which 
supports the interfemoral web. The sensory apparatus, al- 
ready referred to, consists of several peculiar foliaceous expan- 
sions about the nose and ears as well as the ordinary organs. 
Aside from these are glandular appendages near the muzzle 
covered with fine tactile hairs like the vibrissze of other ani- 
mals. The ears are also greatly developed, with membranous 
expansions and. fringing appendages in many species. Each 
_ ear is movable independently. The lips are often curiously 
‘modified and are very sensitive. The alimentary canal is quite 
complicated in the frugivorous bats but has the ordinary car- 
- nivorous structure in entomophaga. The liver isalways large. 
For farther details regarding the anatomy the reader is re- 
_ ferred to the discussion of our native species. 
_ Here it may not be amiss to pass in review a few of the more 
3 _ important families and genera. 
It is common, first of all, to divide the Chiroptera into two 
sub-orders. Sub-order Carpophaga or the fruit-feeding bats 
_ embraces the flying foxes and includes but the single family 
__ Pteropodide. 
