Order 3. 



CAEXARIA. 



61 



The Nyctophilets {Nyctophiliis, Leach) — 

 Are, according to Temminck, somewiiat intermediate to the Rhinolpliines and the next genus of 

 Njcterins ; approaching the former in the character of their incisors and canines, and the latter in 

 that of their molars : the ears are large and pointed ; the tragus lanceolate ; nasal folUcles distmct ■ 

 the tail moderately long, and enveloped in the memhrane. 



Nyct. Geoffroyi, Leach, is the only known species, from some part of Oceanica. It appears to be allied to the 

 true Bats {Vespertilio), and was included in Barbastellus, Gray, as originally constituted.] 



The Nycterixs {Nycteris, Cuv. and Geof.) — 

 Have the forehead furro\yed hy a longitudinal groove, which is even marked upon the cranium, 

 bordered by a fold of the skin, which partially covers it ; nostrils simple ; four incisors without inter- 

 vals above, and six below ; ears large and 

 separated ; the tail involved in the inter- 

 femoral membrane [and terminated by a 

 bifid cartilage (fig. 16, 2).] They ai ■ 

 African species [for the most part, but o;. 

 inhabits Java. 





i 



Fig. 16. — Head of NyctcrtS javanicus 



These animals are remarkable for a i)0\ver of 

 inflatina; the skin, which is only attached to 

 the body in some few places, by an open cel- 

 lular connexion. There is a small apertiu'e at 

 the bottom of each cheek-pouch, by which this 

 is effected ; and the nostrils are so formed as 

 to close when at rest, and to open only at will. 

 By respiring with the mouth closed, the air 

 passes through these apertures along the 

 frontal groove to the upper part of ihe neck, and thence under the skin of the back, chest, and abdomen, 

 which, by a repetition of the process, can be puffed out like a- balloon : the inteut remains to be explained.] 



The Rhixopomes {Rhinqpoma, Geof.) — 



Have the frontal depression less marked ; the nostrils at the end of the muzzle, with a little lamina 

 above, forming a kind of snout ; the ears are joined ; and the tail [which is very slender] extends 

 far beyond the interfemoral membrane. 



[A few species occm- on both continents, one of which is fig^xd in the great French work on Egypt, imder the 

 name Tapkien filet.'] 



The Taphiens {Tapko:ous, Geof.)— 

 Have also a small rounded indenture on the foi'ehead ; but their nostrils have no raised lamina : the 

 head is pyramidal, and there are only two incisors above, very often none, and four tiilobate incisors 

 below ; their ears are 

 widely separated, and [the 

 tipof] their tail free above 

 the membrane. The males 

 have a transverse cavity 

 under the throat. A little 

 prolongation of the mem- 

 hrane of their wings forms 

 a sort of pouch near the 

 carpus.* 



One species was discover- 

 ed in the catacombs of 

 JEgyiit by M. Geoffrey [and 

 it is probable that the others 

 are peculiar to the old con- 



.. ^ ., , ,_ Fi''. 1/. — Mormoops BlainvilUi. 



tmeiit, though one {Vesp. 



martupialis, MuUer) is said to be American. T. rufus, Harlan (Wils. Am. Orn., vol. vi. pi. 50) is most likclv .1 



• Hence the came Succfspteryj, applied to tUis genua by UHfer. 



