THE DOG-HEADED BATS. 1 43 



GENUS ANTROZOUS. 



This genus possesses a large head, high tapering nose, slender trun- 

 cated snout, large eyes, and cars longer than the head. 



The Pale Bat, Antrozous pallidus, is found in the Pacific States and 

 Texas, and exhibits two varieties — one fawn-colored, the other yellowish- 

 brown ; in the latter the interfemoral membrane is bare. 



THE NOCTILIONIDv*:. 



The Dog-headed Bats are very unequally distributed. Their head- 

 quarters are in the tropical regions of America, where most of the 

 genera into which the family is divided are to be found. They range 

 from Mexico to Chili on the West Coast, and Buenos Ayres on the 

 East, and one species occurs in California. New Zealand and Norfolk 

 Island each possess one species. The New Zealand species, Mystacina 

 tubcrciilata, seems to form a connecting link between the Noctilionidas 

 and the Phyllostomidae. 



The Noctilionidas have the ears usually joined, the lips are pendu- 

 lous, the nose sharp, the tragus is broad and square. The tail extends 

 beyond the interfemoral membrane, and the great toes are fringed on 

 the outside. Various classifications of this family have been made ; 

 some authorities include in it the Rkhiopoma, which we have placed 

 with the Rhinolophidac:, and the Taphozons, which we class with the 

 Vespertilionidas. 



The genera are fourteen in number, but their differences are only 

 interesting to the professed student of natural history. 



GENUS NYCTICEIUS. 



This North American genus contains only one species. The head and 

 cars resemble those of the Vesperugo. 



The Creek Bat, Nycticeius crepuscalons, is found from New York to 

 the Rock}' Mountains, and southward to New Orleans. The fur is 

 rather short, and brown, with yellow tips to the hair. 



