ORDER CARNASSIER. 109 



Cheiroptera, it is separated from them still farther by 

 very important modifications in its system of dentition. 

 The kiodote, like the other roussettes, has four incisors 

 and two canines in each jaw ; but it has none of the anoma- 

 lous false molars, neither are its hinder molars small and 

 rudimentary, but as large and as fully developed as the 

 others. These molars are ten in number, in the upper 

 jaw, five on each side, and the two first are pointed. There 

 are twelve in the lower jaw, six on each side. The first, 

 almost at the basis of the canine, is separated by rather a 

 wide interval from the second, and the three anterior ones 

 are pointed. The others, in the two jaws, are plain and 

 even, and very long, in comparison with their bulk. It 

 may also be remarked, that the teeth of the kiodote are 

 the smallest that we are acquainted with, as yet, in the 

 class mammalia, though there are many smaller species to 

 be found in that class than the kiodote. 



The Roussettes, and still more the Cephalotes, have a 

 large and thick muzzle, which indicates powerful jaws, and 

 the faculty of biting with force. The kiodote, on the con- 

 trary, by its large head, and very slender muzzle, which 

 narrows off" suddenly from the eyes announces, what is 

 really the fact, very weak jaws, incapable of acting with 

 any degree of force. The resemblance, in this respect, sub- 

 sisting between the kiodote and some of the edentata, with 

 long muzzles, which live on ants, <5fc, would lead us to sup- 

 pose that these small teeth must be of little use, unfit to 

 encounter any substance that offered much resistance, and 

 incapable of any great effort at mastication. 



This animal, according to M. Leschenault de la Tour, 

 has a tongue two inches (French measure) in length, which is 

 double the length of the head, and which it can thrust com- 

 pletely out of its mouth, and draw back again, like the 

 pangolin (Manis pentadactyla, L.). This organ is not covered 

 with rough papillae, like the tongue of the roussettes, and is 



