THE OWL-FACED BAT. 327 



than in the hand, probably from the great extension 

 of the interfemoral membrane. 



In captivity it uttered once or twice, very slightly, 

 the peculiar short sound resembling the clicking of 

 some delicate piece of machinery, which every one 

 who is familiar with living Bats will remember as 

 common to most of these animals.* It was very 

 active, leaping up to flight from the table, and ex- 

 panding the wings in a moment, though confined 

 within a candle-shade. It bit fiercely at the hand 

 that held it, but could not draw blood from the 

 fingers. It usually carried the apical half of the 

 interfemoral bent upward at the point where it ceases 

 to embrace the tail, so that the tail seems to extend 

 beyond the membrane. It is held thus by the cal- 

 carea, the tips of which, curving downward, carry 

 down again the tip of the membrane, puckered into 

 minute plicae. This was usually (not invariably) the 

 case, when held in the hand ; how it might be in 

 flight, I did not observe ; but I suspect that the 

 interfemoral would then be wholly expanded. It 

 died sooner than I expected, and thus precluded my 

 further observations of its living manners. 



I never saw that very curious form, Mormoops 

 Blainvillii, alive ; but Mr. Hill was so kind as to 

 present me with a specimen in fine preservation in 

 spirits. It had been captured at Spanish Town 



* I have heard the Marmozette Monkey (Jacehus) produce the 

 very same sound; a curious little collateral evidence, if any were 

 wanting, of the correctness of the principles, which impelled the 

 sagacious Linnaeus to place the Bats among his Primates. 



