16 CHEIROPTERA. 



their way along windows, balconies, and roofs, to some of the public offices 

 in the neighbourhood, considerably alarming some of the native writers 

 by clambering in at the open windows. 



The slender Lemur occurs also in Ceylon. Kelaart mentions that the 

 intestines of one examined by him were 35 inches long, and the ccecum 

 2 inches. A black variety is mentioned by Tennent as found in Ceylon.* 



Tarsium, with one species, from Java, is the only other Asiatic member 

 of this family. Lemur, Indrus, and Liclianotus are Madagascar forme, and 

 Galago is African. Cheiromys, a very singular form from Madagascar, 

 having teeth allied to those of the Rodents, is generally placed in this 

 family. 



The genus Galeopithecus is usually made the type of a distinct family, 

 GALEOPITHECID^E. They are the flying lemurs of English authors, having 

 a membrane connecting their limbs. They have not the power of sustain- 

 ing flight, are nocturnal and insectivorous, with pectoral mammae, and 

 sleep with their heads downwards. They are natives of Malayana, and 

 may be said to form a link to the frugivorous bats. 



Sub-order. CHEIROPTERA, Bats. 



Incisors, various in number ; canines, distinct ; molars uniformly ena- 

 melled, with many points, or with a flat depressed crown. Feet, pendacty- 

 lous ; bones of the anterior extremities and especially of the fingers (except 

 the pollux which is always unguiculate) elongated, sustaining a large 

 naked membrane serving for flight ; posterior toes all unguiculate. Two 

 pectoral mammse. 



Bats, as is well known, are nocturnal animals of usually small size, 

 with very small eyes and large ears, capable of sustaining a rapid and con- 

 tinuous flight for some hours. Most are insectivorous, a few frugivorous. 

 They produce one or at most two young ones at a birth, which are of a 

 very large size compared to the parent, and are carried about by her. 

 Their sense of hearing and smell is very acute. They roost in the day- 

 time in trees, in the hollows of trees, in caves, old buildings, under roofs, 

 &c., hanging head downwards by their hind claws. They may be said to 

 resemble Insectivora with the addition of wings. 



The skull is thin, the temporal bone, especially its acoustic portion and 

 the cochlea, much developed. The ribs are extraordinarily long, and the 

 sternum greatly developed, the manubrium or anterior portion being 



* May not this be the last species ? 



