294 NYCTERID.E. 



the sides slightly convex and the posterior termination cut off 

 squarely. The additional leaf that covers the nostrils is rounded 

 below and joined to a prominent rib that traverses the posterior 

 leaf from end to end, a deep groove corresponding to it on the 

 lower surface. Lower lip with a projecting triangular naked 

 extremity, divided by a deep median groove. 



Wing-membranes from the back of the foot, at the base of the 

 two outer toes. Fur soft and moderately long. 



Colour of fur dark ashy or slaty grey above, paler, sometimes 

 whitish, below. 



Dimensions. Head and body 3'4 inches, ear from crown 1*1 

 (from origin of outer margin 1'6), forearm 2*6. 



Distribution. India generally from Kashmir to Cape Comorin, 

 and Ceylon ; occurring west as far as Karachi, and east to Calcutta 

 and Mymensingh. This species is also found in China (Amoy, see 

 Swinhoe, P.Z. 8. 1870, p. 616 ; and Swatow, whence there is a skin 

 in the British Museum). Hitherto, however, this bat has not been 

 recorded from Burma. Col. McMaster notices the destruction of 

 two canaries by bats in Eangoon, and suggests this species as the 

 depredator, which is not improbable. 



Habits. During the day this bat hides in caves, old buildings, 

 roofs of houses, &c. The food may consist partly of insects ; but 

 it is certain that Megaderma lyra feeds on smaller bats, for one was 

 detected and observed in the act by Blyth, and it probably lives 

 chiefly on small Vertebrata. Mr. Frith informed Blyth that at 

 Mymensing the verandah of his house was a favourite resort 

 of a number of these bats, and that every morning the floor was 

 strewn with the hind quarters of frogs and the wings of large 

 grasshoppers and crickets ; on one occasion the remains of a small 

 fish were observed, but frogs appeared to constitute the bats' chief 

 diet, never toads ; and of a quiet evening these animals could be 

 heard crunching the heads and smaller bones of their victims. 



In the case observed by Blyth of a Megaderma killing and eating 

 a smaller bat ( Vesperugo abramus), the former began by seizing its 

 prey behind the ear and sucking the blood during flight. Dobson 

 shows that the peculiar dentition and lips of Megaderma are evidence 

 of its prey differing from that of other insectivorous bats. 



Hodgson has observed that in this species males greatly exceed 

 females in number. Anderson found the young adhering to the 

 abdominal teats and moving about from them to the true or 

 pectoral mammae. Hodgson found a single young in many preg- 

 nant females examined by him at the end of February. 



170. Megaderma spasma. The Malay Vampire Sat. 

 Vespertilio spasma, L. Syst. Nat. i,p. 47 (1766). 

 Megaderma spasma, Cantor, J. A. S. IS. xv, p. 179 ; Blyth, J. A. 8. B. 



xxi, p. 346, xxiv, p. 711 ; id. Cat. p. 23 ; Dobson, Man. As. C/n'r. 



S79; id. Cat. Chir. B. M. p. 157; Anderson. Cat. p. 121; W. 

 lanf. J. A. 8. B. Ivii, pt. 2, p. 264. 

 Megaderma hors6eldi, Blyth, Cat. p. 23. 



