THE BATS. 



41 



Fitj. 21.— Vampibe-Bat (Desmodus riifus). 



In two small genera of the family (Ghilonycteris and Mormops) the nose- 

 leaf is wanting, and its place supplied by two or more lappets of skin hanging 

 from beneath the skin. One of these ° 



chin-leafed bats {M. hlainvilhi) is remark- 

 able for its bright orange fur, and like- 

 wise for the extremely fragile structure 

 of the whole head and body. The harm- 

 less vampires (Fampirus) belong to a 

 group of genera in which the tail, when 

 present, perforates the membrane between 

 the legs, while the nose-leaf is spear- 

 shaped. The largest is the great vampire 

 (V. spectrv.m), from Brazil, in which the 

 expanse of wing is upwards of 28 inches ; 

 the tail being wanting. Apparently these 

 bats feed exclusively on fruits. Nearly 

 allied are the three species of javelin-bats 

 {Phyllostoma) , which may be distinguished from the harmless vampires by the 

 shorter and broader form of the muzzle, as well as by the reduction in the 

 number of the lower premolar teeth from three to two pairs. There is some 

 degree of doubt whether any of the javelin-bats are addicted to blood-sucking 

 propensities. 



More remarkable than any of the family are the long-tongued vampires, 

 which are referred to several genera, such as Olossophaga, Ghceronycte lia, 

 Phyllonycteris, etc., easily recognised by the narrow muzzle and the long, 

 slender, extensile tongue, tipped at the extremity with sensile papillce, and 

 capable of being protruded a long distance in advance of the tongue. Like 

 the javelin-bats, these vampires have a small spear-shaped nose-leaf rising 

 vertically from the muzzle immediately between the nostrils. The tongue 

 appears to be used both to scoop out the soft interior of fruits, and likewise 

 to extract small insects from tubular flowers. 



Another well-marked assemblage is formed by the short-nosed vampires, 

 of which there are no less than nine genera, and among which Artibens and 

 Stenuderma may be mentioned by name. All these bats, which are for the 

 most part frugivorous in their diet, are distinguished by the extreme short- 

 ness of their muzzles, which are generally very wide, and are provided with a 

 short nose-leaf ; the fore-part of the latter being in the form of a horse-shoe, 

 and the hinder moiety spear-shaped. One of these species (Artibevs per- 

 spicillatus) is very common in the plantations of Jamaica, where it feeds on 

 mangoes, bread-fruit, etc. 



The last representatives of this extensive family arc the blood-sucking 

 vampires, -of which one species alone constitutes the genus Desmodus, 

 while the latter represents another genus named Viphylla. Both these 

 bats are characterised by the short and conical form of the muzzle, 

 which carries a small nose-leaf, the shortness of the membrane be- 

 tween the hind-legs, the absence of a tail, and the small number and 

 peculiar structure of the teeth. In the first-named genus the total number 

 of teeth is 20, molars being wanting ; but in the second it is 22, owing 

 to the presence of a pair of rudimentary molars in the upper jaw. Both 

 have a single pair of broad chisel-like incisor teeth in the upper jaw, 

 which fill up the whole space between the tusks ; and the two pairs of 

 upper, and three pairs of lower premolars have sharp cutting edges. In 



