296 



BATS 



; , \V\v-- 



LONG-TAILED BAT. 

 (Natural size.) 



THE MASTIFF-BATS 

 Genus Molossus 



With the mastiff -bats, which take their name from a supposed resemblance of 

 their broad wide-mouthed muzzles to the head of a mastiff, we come to the first 

 representatives of the second subfamily of this division, the members of which are 



characterized by the thickness of their tails, which (with 

 a single exception) are prolonged for a considerable 

 distance beyond the hinder margin of the membrane 

 between the hind legs. The legs are short and strong, 

 and the feet of great relative width ; while the thumbs of 

 the wings have curious callosities at their bases ; and the 

 upper incisor teeth are of large size, and limited to a 

 single pair. As in all these bats, the feet are completely 

 free from the wing membranes, which can be comfortably 

 folded up and stored away between the fore-arms and the 

 HEAD OF MASTIFF-BAT, j ^ the membrane between the legs can be retraced 



(From Dobson, Proc. Zool. Soc., 1878. ) J 



to a greater of less extent by being moved backwards 



and forwards along the tail. In the strength of their limbs, in the development of 

 the corn-like callosities at the bases of their thumbs, as well as in their large and 



