54-8 MANUAL OF ZOOLOGY. 



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

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

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

 Bats hybernate. 



The Cheiroptera are conveniently divided into the two 

 sections 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 VespertilionidcE, Rhinolophida, and Phytlos- 

 tomidce. 



Fig. 210. A, Head of Vampire-bat (Alectops ater). B, Head of Fox-bat 

 (Pterofus personatus) after Gray. 



Fam. i. Vespertilionida. 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 

 appendages, and the tail is usually elongated and enclosed in 

 a large inter-femoral membrane. About fifteen species of this 

 family have been described as British, but of these only two 

 are at all common. Of these two, the Pipistrelle ( Vespertilio 

 pipistrelld) is the commonest species, occurring over the whole 

 of Britain. The long-eared Bat (Plecotus auritus} is also not 

 uncommon, and is distinguished by its greatly elongated ears, 

 which are confluent above the forehead. The largest British 

 species is the Noctule ( Vespertilio noctula), which measures as 

 much as fifteen inches in expanse of wing. 



Fam. 2. Rhinolophida. 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 Vespertilionida, 

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

 apparatus appended to the nose. Of this family, two British 



