CHEIROPTERA. 125 



brane. Large as the external ear is found to be in 

 some of the preceding genera, it is still increased, 

 often double, with an internal concha, which sur- 

 rounds the auditory foramen ; and all these mem- 

 branes appear endowed with so exquisite a feeling, 

 as to afford the animals a kind of sixth sense, which 

 has the effect of seeing and touching both combined. 

 This exquisite sensibility of their organs, moreover, 

 they have the power in a great measure to control, 

 the nasal tubes and auricular conchs being capable 

 of closing at the will of the animals. The foremost 

 of these is, the 



Genus VAMPYRUS, Leach. Vampyre Bats, 

 which have the head long and narrow ; the muzzle 

 lengthened ; the ears middle sized, separate ; the 

 auricular operculum notched, placed interiorly ; the 

 tongue extensile, with the point formed for suction ; 

 the papilla3 directed backwards ; the nose with two 

 appendages, one horizontal, in the form of a horse 

 shoe, the other erect, like the blade of a javelin. 

 Dent form, incis. f , can. {-\ , mol. J = f = 34. 

 The Vampyre genus was detached from Phyllostoma 

 of Geoffroy and Cuvier, on account of the cranium 

 being longer and narrower, and the presence of two 

 more premolars in the lower jaw. It is likewise pre- 

 eminently distinguished as a blood sucker, though 

 by no means the only one. This habit was long 

 doubted, and although the effect of their bite on 

 man is not of that fearful kind which the planters 

 of Guiana used to assert, yet it is still sufficiently 

 serious to excite alarm, and, in some cases, is dan- 



