764 



MANUAL OF ZOOLOGY. 



( Vespertilio noctula), which measures as much as fifteen inches 

 in expanse of wing. 



Fam. 2. Rhinolophidcz. The second family of the Insec- 

 tivorous Bats is that of the Rhinolophidce or Horse-shoe Bats 

 which in most respects are very similar to the Vesperlilionidcz, 

 but are distinguished by the possession of a complex leaf-like 

 apparatus appended to the nose. In the typical forms of the 

 family the ears have no tragus or earlet. Of this family, two 

 British species are known the Greater and Lesser Horse-shoe 

 Bats (Rhinolophus ferrum-equinum and R. hipposideros). 



Most of the Horse-shoe Bats are Asiatic and African, a few 

 being found in Australia. The genera Nycteris and Megaderma 

 are sometimes separated to form a distinct family (Nycteridce), 

 distinguished by having very large ears, with a well-marked 

 tragus or earlet. 



Fam. 3. Nodilionidcz or Emballonurida. In this family are a 

 number of Bats which are principally South American, African, 

 and Asiatic, and which are distinguished from the Vespertilion- 

 idce by the fact that the tail usually perforates the inter-femoral 

 membrane at or about its middle, and the incisors are of large 

 size. 



Fam. 4. Phyllostomida. This is the only remaining family 

 of the Insectivorous Bats, and comprises the well-known Vam- 

 pire-bats (fig. 444, A), distinguished by having leaf-like nasal 



appendages, and by the 

 fact that the ears are of 

 small size ; whereas in 

 the preceding they are 

 always very large (Rhi- 

 nolophus}, and are of- 

 ten confluent above the 

 forehead (Megaderma}. 

 They are all of large 

 size, and are natives of 

 South America, extend- 

 ing northwards to Mex- 

 ico and California. The 

 Vampire-bat (Phyllosto- 



Fig. 443 Skull of the Javelin Bat (Phyllostoma has- ma spectrum] has an CX- 

 tatnm), showing the large canines, and cuspidate r r , 



molars. panse of wing of two 



feet and a half, and 



lives chiefly upon insects. Some species of the family have 

 the habit of sucking the blood of sleeping animals, appearing 

 sometimes to attack even man, though apparently never doing 

 any substantial or lasting injury. 



