ORDER CARNASSIER. 127 



figure meant to represent a tendon, has become under the 

 graver of the German artist, a real tail. Schreiber after- 

 wards gave a better and original figure of the vampire. 



The length of muzzle in the vampire, the size of its ears, 

 and the smallness of the nasal leaf, compose altogether a 

 very singular physiognomy. The membrane of the wings 

 is prolonged along the entire edge of the metatarsus, and 

 terminates at the origin of the first toes. The interfemoral 

 fills all the space comprised between the legs. Its terminal 

 edge forms a salient angle, which is the product of three 

 lines equal between themselves, the two extremes corre- 

 sponding with the osselets of the tarsus and the third with 

 that part of the membrane which is deprived of support. 



The fur is soft to the touch, marron-colour above, and of 

 a reddish yellow beneath. 



The phyllostoma perspicillatum, or lunette, (spectacle bat,) 

 was called by Buffon grand fer-de-lance , for no other reason 

 that we can discover but that it is invariably found to be 

 smaller than his other fer-de-lance, (common javelin bat). 

 He gives it as wanting the second ears or development of 

 the tragus, and the figure in front of his description exhi- 

 bits them very distinctly. In fine, he discovers that there 

 are no incisive teeth in the upper jaw, and M. Geoffroy 

 has reckoned four in all the subjects submitted to his exa- 

 mination. Be it remembered, however, in reference to 

 this last remark, with what facility all the bats lose their 

 incisive teeth ; and more particularly the upper ones. 



In this species, the lips are bordered by a series of warts, 

 and very strong nodosities are conspicuous on the articula- 

 tions of the third and fourth finger. 



The interfemoral membrane forms a re-entering angle ; 

 it is almost without support, in consequence of the small- 

 ness of its osselets. The colour of the back is blackish- 

 brown, and of the belly clear brown. 



Under this species, as a variety, is ranged the first bat of 



