DISTRIBUTION OF INSECTIVORES, BATS, AND RODENTS 265 



genera, is found in every Region, and seems to pervade 

 nearly the whole of the earth's surface, and to extend 

 far north and south. The common Pipistrelle {Vespertilio 

 pipistrellus), ranges into the high north of Europe ; while 

 another species of the same genus (V. mo.gcllanicus) 

 inhabits the cold and desolate shores of the Straits of 

 Magellan. 



The Serotine Bat (V. serotinus) is remarkable as the 

 only species of Bat that is known to inhabit both the Old 

 and New Worlds, being found in North America as far 

 south as Guatemala. It also extends over a great part 

 of the Oriental and Ethiopian Regions. 



The fourth family of Insectivorous Bats, the Emballo- 

 nuridte, easily distinguished by the tail perforating the 

 inter-femoral membrane or being produced far beyond it, 

 has likewise an extensive distribution, as members of the 

 fifteen genera into which it is divided occur in every one 

 of the six Regions. But these Bats are more abundant 

 within the tropics, and are only feebly represented by a 

 few stray forms in the Nearctic and Palasarctic Regions. 

 Of the two Bats known to occur in New Zealand, one 

 {Mystacops) is a member of this family, and is peculiar 

 to New Zealand. This and another Bat (Chalinolobus 

 morio), belonging to the family Vespertilionidx, are the 

 only two indigenous mammals of the New Zealand group, 

 the Rat Mus maorium, often attributed to it, being 

 probably a modern introduction. 



The last family of Bats, the Phyllostomatidtv, or Vam- 

 pires, are entirely restricted to the Neotropical Region, 

 where they form one of the most characteristic groups of 

 mammals, being very numerous alike in species, genera, 

 and individuals. Of the thirty-six genera, with upwards 



