288 



BATS. 



Sucker-Footed 

 Eats. 



Our notice of the Typical Bats may conclude with t,feuera. 

 each repie-ente'l only liy a sinj^le species, •which are peculiar in 

 ha\iag; sucking organs on the thumbs or hind feet. One of these species is 

 the tricolor bat {Tln/ropfrra tricolor) of Brazil, and the other the golden bat 

 {Myxopoda aurita) of Madagascar. Both have thirty-eight teeth, as in the genus 

 Vespertilio. In the former the suckers are in the form of round discs on the 

 lower surfaces of the thumbs and the soles of the feet ; while in the latter the 



sucker on the thumb is horseshoe-like, and those 

 on the feet are smaller. Both these bats are 

 further remarkable for possessing three joints in 

 the third or middle finger of the win<r, in which 

 respect they resemble the second family of the 

 Free-Tailed Bats. 



Bj' the aid of their suctorial discs these bats 

 are enabled to climb smooth polished surfaces, after 

 the manner of cuttle-fishes ; but a good and satis- 

 factory account of their habits is still a desidci-atum. 

 The occuiTcnce of the two forms of .sucker-footed 

 bats in such widely remote regions as Madagascar 

 and Brazil is one out of many instances indicating an intimate connection between 

 the faunas of South Africa and South America. 



HEAD OF TALl.-Lltii\\.\tD BAT (3 times 

 nat. size). (From Dobson, /'roc 

 Zool. Soc, 1880.) 



The Free-TaUed The bats remaining for notice are arranged in two families, and 



Insectivorous ditt'er so markedly from those described that they may be regarded as 

 ^^*^' forming a separate bi'anch derived from the same stock as that from 

 which the T_\i5ical Bats have originated. From the circumstance that in many 

 of these bats a greater or smaller portion of the tail is completely- detached from 

 the membrane between the hind legs, the whole group may be conveniently referred 

 to as the Free-Tailed Bats ; and to them we devote a special chapter. 



SKELETON OF BAT ( Vespertilio), IN cbeepikg posture. 



