CARNARIA 



M. Geoffroy also separates from the Bats 



The Oreillards {Plecotus), — 

 Which have the ears longer than the head, and joined above the cranium, as in the Megaderms, 

 Rhiiiopomes, &c. Their tragus is large and lanceolate, and there is an operculum to their auditory 

 orifice. 



The common species {Vesp. mirifus, Lin.) is still more 

 abundant iu France than any of the Bats [and is equally 

 plentiful in England], inhabiting houses, kitchens, &c. Its 

 ears (fig. 18) are nearly as long as its body [more than double 

 the length of the head; yet, when rejwsing (as shown in 

 fig. 19), they are folded so as to be out of sight. Its peculiar 

 slmfllinggait, with the head raised, is ditlerent from that of 

 the Bats with short ears ; and it may be tamed to hover around 

 with familiarity, and alight upon the hand for insect food. 

 The PI. hrevimanus, Jenyns, is merely the young ; but there 

 are several exotic species.] We have also another, discovered by Daubenton, with 

 forming the equivalent division 



Fig. 19 



shorter ears, [now 



Barbastelle {Barbastellus, Gray) — 

 The ears of which are moderate, united at base ; and there is a hollowed naked space on the upper 

 surface of the muzzle, in c^?^.j 



which the nostrils are situ- 

 ated ; but one pair of false 

 molars to each jaw. 



B. Dauhentonil, Bell, (fig. 

 20,) is the only ascertained 

 species. It is of rare occur- 

 rence in Britain , an d measures 

 lOJ inches in extent of wing.] 



Finally, Nijclicev^*, Ra 

 fin., [ Scofophilus, Leach, 



Pipistrellus, Bonap.], with Fij?. 20.— Barbaslellns Dan e toal. 



ears of medium size, and the simple muzzle of the Bats, has only two incisors to the upper jaw 

 [which are widely separated, and close to the canines.] It docs not otherwise differ from Venperlil 0. 



Tlie known species are from North America, [but others have since been discovered in the ancient continent, 

 as iV. Heathii, Horsf., from India, and another from Java. Mr. Gray, indeed, includes most of the European Bats 

 in his Scotophilus ; but Temminck, who rejects Pleolus even, suggests, and I think with reason, that the present 

 also is a superfluous division, based on insutticient characters. The Oreillards and Barbastellcs are subordinate 

 to Vespertilio, also Furia, F. Cuv., (Furiptcrus, Bonap.) which has the tail partly cartilaginous, Naialus, Gray, 

 wherein the heel-bone extends the whole length of the interfenioral membrane ; Romiciiis, Gray, and Miniopteriis, 

 Bonap. Atalapha, Rafin., is said to have no incisors, Ilypexodon, Kafin., to have incisors (of the usual number, 

 six) in the lower jaw only ; Lasitirus h&shacn applied to a small group with the interfemoral mcnilirane hairy; 

 and, lastly, Pachyotus and Nyctalus, Bowditch, are divisions of no value whatever. It is to be regretted that 

 natiu'alists cannot occupy their time more profitably than in coining supernumerary names. 



' Sometimes written Xijctkfjtii. — Ed. 



