MAMMALIA 371 



California, being fearful of their introduction into the United States, have 

 secured a law prohibiting their importation even into zoological gardens. 

 In the Ethiopian region this family is represented by the large, grotesque, 

 hammer-headed bat {Epomoph'orus). Its head, particularly the muzzle, is 

 enlarged, giving it a resemblance, in profile, to the head of a moose. The 

 larger fruit bats are eaten by natives of their countries and even relished by 

 white men. They make affectionate pets, but it would seem strange, weird 

 ones. 



Microchiroptera includes five families. Here belong the leaf-nosed bats 

 already mentioned, the "bonneted bats," and the naked bats, the vampires 

 (Fig. 296), and the common smaller bats. The naked bats of Borneo have 

 thick, leathery, elastic skin. A scent gland for defense is situated between 

 two folds about the neck. The most remarkable thing is the mammary 

 pouch under each arm — a wide pouch of rubber-like skin in wnich the young 

 are carried until able to fly. The mammary gland is in the lower portion of 

 the pouch. 



Fig, 296. — Head of Phyllos'tonia {\'cn)tpyrus) spectruni. (Claus.) 



Of the vampires or blood-suckers, the javelin bat {Phijlos'toma hastatum) 

 bites horses, cattle, and even sleeping man. The sharp-edged, dagger-like 

 teeth make a small round hole in the skin, from which the vampire draws 

 the blood by mouth suction. The blood sometimes flows freely after the 

 bat has left its victim, but there is no poison attending a wound. The 

 digestive organs of the vani])ires are extremely modified, these bats living 

 upon predigested liciuid food. The gullet is too narrow for any solid food to 

 pass throujili and the stoninch is intestine-like. 



The common bats ( I '< s/n rUlion'idce) range overall parts of the world, and 

 number oxer two liuiKU'cd sj>ecies. Most of the bats of the United States, 

 about eighteen species, belong to this family. They are very common 

 along the Atlantic coast a,nd there are several species along the Pacific. 

 The commonest is the little red bat, which flies about in the early twilight. 

 It is constantly on the wing from sunset until dark. In its flight it can turn 

 abruptly and with great accuracy. It is remarkable that it can turn and 

 double so quickly and dart in all possible directions without striking any- 

 thing. Thegraj^bat of the northeastern United Slates and Canada and the 

 big-eared bat of the South Atlantic coast are members of t his family. The 

 North American bats never make any nests. The little bats are born in 

 crannies, and, from the first, cling about the mother's neck when she 

 chases the "numberless little flying things of the dusk. When there are 

 twins, the male takes his share of the responsibility." 



