1. MEGADEEMA. 156 



presence near the pubis of a pair of peculiar teat-like appendages 

 connects this genus with the Rhinolophidse. 



Mr. Blyth has shown* that one species at least of the genus {M. 

 lyra) occasionally feeds on other than insect prey, as he had taken 

 a specimen in the act of sucking the blood, while flying, from a 

 smaller species of Bat, which it afterwards devoured. The very 

 peculiarly shaped, elongated, narrow muzzle, and large trenchant 

 canines, with acutely pointed basal cusps, of this and of the other 

 species of Megadertna, and the projecting mandible, so different from 

 all insectivorous Bats, naturally lead us to suspect corresponding 

 differences in habits. It is highly probable that all the species of 

 this genus do not confine themselves to insect prey alone, but also 

 feed, when they can, upon the smaller species of Bats and other 

 small mammals. I have examined the stomachs and intestines of a 

 great number of specimens of M. lyra, but have invariably found them 

 either quite empty or partially filled with pultaceous matter, in which 

 I have not been able to distinguish the remains of insects ; but 

 Hodgson foimd insects in the stomachs of specimens of this species 

 which he obtained in Nipal, and Jerdon states that it has also been 

 known to eat frogs and fish. 



Synopsis of Subgenera and Species. 

 (See Plate X.) 



I. Premolars ^^ ; frontal bones slightly flattened, 



with or without small postorbital processes. 

 (Oriental Region.) 



a. Base of the central longitudinal crest of the 



noEse-leaf expanded above, cordiform ; no post- 

 orbital processes. (Subgen. Mecjaderma, Ptrs.) 2. M. spasma, p.l57. 



b. Base of the central longitudinal crest of the nose- 



leaf circular ; postorbital processes small. (Sub- 

 gen. Lyroderma, Ptrs.) 1. M. lyra, p. 166. 



II. Premolars^; frontal bones much flattened, with 



more or less large postorbital processes. (Ethio- 

 pian Region.) 



c. Base of the central longitudinal crest of the nose- 



leaf expanded, cordiform; frontal bones con- 

 siderably flattened and grooved, with weU- 

 developed postorbital processes. (Subgen. 

 C'ardioderma, Ptrs.) 3. M. cor, p. 159. 



d. Base of the central longitudinal process irregu- 



larly quadrate ; centre of the anterior margin 

 of the horizontal leaf bent upwards, forming a 

 prominent projection in front; frontal bones 

 much flattened and grooved, with large post- 

 orbital processes. (Subgen. Lavia, Gray) 4. M. from, p. 159. 



As the above Synoptical Table shows, the species inhabiting the 



* In a paper " On the Sanguivorous and Predaceous Habits of the Bats of 

 the Genus Megaderma" Jouni. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, xi. pp. 255, 256. Vide u\y 

 'Monograph of the Asiatic Chiropteva,' p. 77 (1876). 



