82 



OSTEOLOGICAL GALLERY. 



To this great group, containing five families and the great ma- 

 jority of the species, belong all our British species, the largest of 

 which, the Noctule (Vesperugo noctuld), may be taken as a typical 

 insectivorous Bat. The most extreme modification of this type is 

 represented by the Blood-sucking Bat (Desmodus rufus), whose 

 molars are almost aborted as being practically useless, while its 

 incisors are reduced in number to two, which are extremely large 

 and gouge-shaped, and peculiarly fitted to cause a free flow of 

 blood from their bite (see fig. 40). 



Order V. DERMOPTERA. 



[Case 8. In the so-called Flying Lemur (Galeopithecus), of which a 

 Div. A.] skeleton is mounted, the radius and ulna are partly joined to- 



Fig. 41. 



Lower Incisors of Galeopithecus. 



gether, in order to render the forearm more rigid ; the hip-bones 

 are united below by a long symphysis pubis\ and in the skull the 

 muzzle is broad and flattened, the orbit nearly surrounded by bone, 

 and there is a well-developed zygomatic arch. 



The dentition of these peculiar animals is altogether unique, 

 especially the lower incisor teeth (fig. 41), which are of a very 

 remarkable pattern, being so deeply notched as to appear like 

 minute combs. 



