MAMMALIA. 479 



Group 2. Fnigivora. 



The frugivorous tribe of bats has no representatives in the New World ; 

 the few genera of which it is composed belong chiefly to tropicjgil Asia. 

 They have molar teeth, with rounded eminences for bruising and grinding 

 their food ; their intestinal canal is very long, in some instances seven times 

 as long as the body itself, indicating that these animals were destined to 

 subsist, in part at least, upon vegetable diet. Like many of the monkeys, 

 however, they are probably omnivorous in some degree, feeding chiefly upon 

 fruits, but pursuing small birds, or large soft-bodied insects, which may be 

 obtained without much difficulty. This tribe contains but one family. 



Fam. Pteropodid^e. Is characterized by the entire absence of the nose- 

 leaf, the simplicity of the ears, the shortness of the tail. The flesh of many 

 of the frugivorous bats is eaten as a dainty by the inhabitants of the coun- 

 tries in which they are found, having a flavor which has been compared to 

 that of the hare and partridge. Possibly some of the largest kinds were 

 known to the ancients, and gave rise to the fabulous account of the harpy. 

 The genus Pteropus (roussette bats) belongs exclusively to the Old 

 ^orld, and comprehends numerous species. There are trenchant incisors 

 in each jaw, and the molars have flat crowns ; the food consists chiefly of 

 fruits, of which these animals destroy large quantities; they pursue biids 

 and small quadrupeds %-ith much success. This genus includes the largest 

 species known of bats ; their flesh is eaten ; they inhabit the East Indies. 

 The tail is absent, or nearly so ; the membranous expansion is deeply 

 notched between the legs ; the snout is simple, somewhat elongated, and 

 the nostrils widely separated ; the ears are of a middling size. The species 

 belong to Asia and the Indian Archipelago. 



The common roussette (P. vulgaris) is represented on pi. 117, fig. 9. 

 These animals generally preserve a perfect silence during the day ; but if 

 disturbed, they will emit sharp piercing shrieks. 



The genus Harpyia (tube-nosed roussette) comprehends a single species, 

 which inhabits Timor. It is a singular looking bat, having nostrils project- 

 ing in a kind of cylinder, and a claw on the fore-finger. 



The genus Cephahtes contains also a single species, from tropical Asia. 

 The membranes of their wings, instead of meeting at their flanks, are joined 

 to each other on the middle of the back, to which they adhere by a vertical 

 and longitudinal partition. 



The genus Mocroglossa (great-tongued roussette) is very closely allied to 

 Pteropus. It is characterized b}^ the extreme length of the head, the 

 absence of false molars, the great development of the posterior molar, and 

 the extensile tongue. One species, from tropical Asia. 



The genus Pachysoma (stout-bodied roussette) is composed of at least 

 six species, which resemble Pteropus, and are found inhabiting tropical 

 Asia. 



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