THE BATS. 



39 



which are inclined towards one another. An oblique truncation of the 

 extremity of the snout causes the nostrils to project more or less in advance 

 of the extremity of the lower jaw. These bats are most abundant in the 

 zone lying thirty degrees on each side of the Equator ; and among them are 

 the only two indigenous Mammals found in New Zealand. Both in this 

 and the next family only a small proportion of the more interesting types 

 out of a very large number of genera will be noticed in this place. 



The typical representatives of the family are the sheath-tailed bats 

 (Emballonura\ ranging from the Malayan countries to the Philippine Islands, 

 and also found from Madagascar to the Navigator group. They belong to a 

 group of several genera in which the free extremity of the slender tail 

 perforates the membrane between the legs, while the legs are relatively long, 

 and the upper incisor teeth are weak ; two pairs of these teeth being present 

 in this particular genus. Further distinctive characteristics of Emballonura, 

 are that there are 34 teeth, that the muzzle is more or less distinctly pro- 

 duced, the top of the head flat, the ears completely separate from each other, 

 and their tragus somewhat oblong and expanded above. Tropical America 

 is the home of the allied pouch-winged bats (Saccopteryx), all of which are 

 small-sized creatures, with only a single pair of upper incisor teeth, and a 

 peculiar glandular pouch on the under side of the wing in the neighbourhood 

 of the elbow- joint. These pouches, which are rudimental in the females, 

 appear to have a sexual function, and in one species a white frill of skin 

 protrudes from the aperture of each. 



The tomb-bats (Taphozous) form another large genus, with representatives 

 in Africa, the Oriental countries, and Australia, and differ from other 

 members of the group in having only two pairs of lower incisor teeth, and 

 also in the shedding of the single upper pair in the adult condition. The 

 males, and in some cases also the females, of many species have glandular 

 pouches beneath the chin ; and some forms which hibernate for a long period 

 accumulate large deposits of fat about the root of the tail before retiring for 

 their torpor. The typical representative of the genus is found in large 

 numbers in the ancient tombs of Egypt. 



The two species of white bats (Diclidurus) from Tropical America are worthy 

 of notice, on account of the yellowish or creamy-white colour of the tips of the 

 fur. Closely allied to the tomb-bats, they differ in having three pairs of lower 

 incisor teeth, while they are distinguished from all other bats by the presence 

 of a pouch on the under surface of the membrane between the hind-legs. 

 Two other bats from the same region, known as the hare-lipped bats (Noctilio), 

 take their name from the curious resemblance of their folded upper lips to 

 those of the Rodents, while one species is remarkable on account of its diet, 

 which consists mainly, if not exclusively, of small fish. Another peculiar 

 member of the same sub-family is the long-tailed bat (Rhinopoma microphyl- 

 lum\ ranging from North-Eastern Africa through India to Burma, and is 

 easily recognised by the very long, whip-like tail, which projects far beyond 

 the hinder margin of the extremely short membrane joining the hind-legs. 



The mastiff-bats (Molossus), so named on account of their very broad and 

 wide-mouthed muzzles, are the first representatives of a second sub-family of 

 the JEmballonuridce characterised by the thickness of the tail, which, save in 

 one species, is produced a considerable distance beyond the free margin of the 

 membrane joining the legs. All have short, strong legs, very broad feet, and 

 callosities at the base of the thumbs, while there is only a single pair of incisor 

 teeth in the upper jaw. The hind-feet have no attachment to the wings, the 



