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MANUAL OF ZOOLOGY. 



crevices amongst the rocks, where they suspend themselves by 

 means of the short thumbs, which are provided with curved 

 claws. In their flight, though they can fly in the genuine and 

 proper sense of the term, and can turn with great ease, they 

 are by no means as rapid and as active as are the true birds. 

 The tail is sometimes short, sometimes moderately long, and 

 is usually included in a continuation of the leathery patagium, 

 which stretches between the hind-legs, and is termed the 

 " inter-femoral membrane." The body is covered with hair, 

 but the patagium is usually hairless, or nearly so. Most of 

 the Bats hybernate. 



Fig. 266. Skeleton of Fox-bat (Pteropus) after Owen. 



The Cheiroptera are conveniently divided into the two sec- 

 tions of the Insectivora and Frugivora, according as the diet 

 consists of insects or of fruits. 



SECTION A. INSECTIVORA. In this section are the three 

 families of the Vesper tilionidce, Rhinolophida, and Phyllostomida. 



Fam. i. Vespertilionidcz. In this family are the ordinary 

 Bats, distinguished by having a dentition very like that of the 

 order of the Insectivorous Mammals, the molar teeth being 

 furnished with small pointed eminences or cusps, adapted for 

 crushing insects. The nose is not furnished with leaf-like 



