290 



BATS 



By the aid of their suctorial discs these bats are enabled to climb smooth pol- 

 ished surfaces, after the manner of cuttlefishes ; but a good and satisfactory account 

 of their habits is still a desideratum. The occurrence of the two forms of sucker- 

 footed bats in such widely remote regions as Madagascar and Brazil is one out of 

 many instances indicating an intimate connection between the faunas of South. 

 Africa and South America. 



SKELETON OF BAT ( VeSpertilio) IN CREEPING POSTURE. 



The bats remaining for notice are arranged in two families, and" 

 differ so markedly from those described that they may be regarded as- 

 forming a separate branch derived from the same stock as that from 

 tivorous Bats 



which the Typical Bats have originated. From the circumstance that 

 in many of these bats a greater or smaller portion of the tail is completely detached 

 from the membrane between the hind legs, the whole group may be conveniently- 

 referred to as the Free-Tailed Bats ; and to them we devote a special chapter. 



