120 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



All the phyllostomata have an indented tragus, or second 

 ear, interior, and placed on the border of the auricular 

 foramen. Another lobe is observed within the ear, not far 

 from the opening. 



The nasal leaf, though not so complicated as that of the 

 Rhinolphi, does not less merit the attention of the natura- 

 list. Its seat is circumscribed by thick swellings, so that 

 the nasal openings appear, as it were, at the bottom of a 

 tunnel. The edges of this cavity are detached in a thin la- 

 mina, the semi-curve of which, is- a good representation of 

 an horse-shoe. It is from the middle of this curve that the 

 leaf, properly so called, arises, consisting of a thick and 

 elongated sort of cushion, the edges of which, are accom- 

 panied by membranes. It is terminated in a point at its 

 extremity, from which it has been compared, in some spe- 

 cies, to a javelin. 



The movements of this apparatus are regulated by the 

 muscles of the nostrils, and of the lips. The nostrils are 

 hermetically sealed, when the leaf is lowered, and descends 

 into the tunnel, and when the horse-shoe is raised. 



The tongue is remarkable ; its breadth to its length is as 

 one to six ; it is flattish above, and rounded underneath ; in 

 length and narrowness, like the tongue of the ant-eaters ; it 

 also resembles them in the faculty of being completely thrust 

 out ; its surface is slightly and regularly shagreened ; close 

 to its extremity may be observed a kind of organ of suction ; 

 it is a cavity, the centre of which is filled by a point in re- 

 lievo, the circuit of which is marked by eight warts. 

 The eyelids open and close sideways. 

 In speaking of the teeth of the phyllostomata, we may 

 observe, that though the teeth usually correspond with the 

 digestive organs, as trenchant teeth agree best with such 

 animals as have a simple stomach, and short intestinal 

 canal, and large and flat teeth, with such as have large and 



