ORDER CARNASSIER. Ill 



head is large and rounded, approaching to the form of an 

 ellipsis. The muzzle short and thick. The individual 

 noticed by M. Geoffroy was but young, and of course not 

 completely developed. Its teeth were not entirely formed ; 

 the canines had but just appeared, and scarcely exceeded 

 the molars. Its incisive teeth were very distinct, four in 

 number in each jaw. The upper ones equal, and at a small 

 distance from each other, the lower smaller and closer. 

 The intermediate incisors were finer than the lateral. 



But to pass over minor peculiarities, there were two very 

 remarkable characters in this species, which occasioned its 

 describer to conjecture that it might one day be withdrawn 

 from the roussettes, and elevated to the rank of a genus. 

 These were, — 1. The absence of a nail on the index finger, 

 which is, however, as short as that of the other roussettes, 

 and equally provided with all its phalanges. 2. The inser- 

 tion of the wings, the membranes of which adhere together. 



Nothing can be more singular than such an organization. 

 In the other bats, the membrane extended between the fin- 

 gers of the hand grows from the sides, being formed by a 

 prolongation of the skin, which grows more slender in 

 proportion to its extension. But in this roussette, the same 

 membrane actually grows from the central line of the back, 

 where the skin forms a slight projection before it is ex- 

 tended horizontally and to the extremities. It has exactly 

 the appearance of a mantle thrown over the shoulders of 

 the animal, and gave occasion to M. Geoffroy to give it the 

 appellation of paliatus. 



An arrangement of this kind must have for its final 

 cause the advantage and comfort of the animal in which it 

 occurs. The Deity does nothing in vain, nothing without 

 a benevolent purpose. Accordingly, we find that this dis- 

 position of the skin, first, by increase of surface, renders 

 the body of this bat specifically lighter, and assists it in its 

 flight ; and secondly, that when the wing is folded, it forms 



