22 SOUTH AFRICAN MAMMALS 



in the Pretoria district, full of bats — in fact, wben we 

 penetrated into the intensely dark interior we disturbed 

 them by the score, and they left their perches in clouds 

 as we advanced, and we could feel the "swish " of their 

 wings as they continually dashed past us, repeatedly 

 putting out our candles. 



The species obtained included the " Horseshoe Bat " 

 {Bhinolophus augur), Petalia capensis, Mineopterus natal- 

 ensis, and Nyctinomus cegyptiacus. 



The large majority of bats feed upon insects, but 

 some live on fruit, while others — the Vampires of South 

 America — are blood-suckers. 



South African Bats are of two sub-orders, the Mega- 

 chiroptera (containing the large fruit bats) and the 

 Micro-chiroptera (containing the smaller Serotine, Horse- 

 shoe and Nose-leaf Bats, which are mostly insect eating). 



Family PTBEOPODID^. 



The members of this family constitute the largest of 

 the Ghiroptera, and feed upon fruit. 



The head is not short and skimpy, as in the other 

 families, but is long and dog-like. The ears are small. 

 There are two genera, distinguished mainly by the tail, 

 that of Eponiophorus being free from the interfemoral 

 membrane, while that of Bousettus is attached at its base 

 to this membrane. Both genera contain two species 

 found in South Africa. 



Epauletted Fruit Bat. Epoviophorus wahlbergi. 



Lips thick, having a swollen appearance. General 

 colour, above mouse-grey, paler below. There are tufts 

 of white hair on the inner margin of the ear, and also 

 on the shoulders, where the glands are situated. The 



