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MANUAL OF ZOOLOGY. 



Section A. Insectivora. — In this section are the three 

 families of the VesfertilioKidcB, Rhinolophidce, axA Phyllostomidce. 



Fam. r. VespertilionidcB. — In this family are the ordinary 

 Bats, distinguished by having a dentition very Uke that of the 

 order of the Insectivorous Mammals, the molar teeth being 

 furnished with small pointed eminences or cusps, adapted for 

 crushing insects. The nose is not furnished with leaf- like 

 appendages, and the tail is usually elongated, and enclosed in 

 a large inter-femoral membrane. About fifteen species of this 

 family have been described as British, but of these only two 

 are at all common. Of these two, the Pipistrelle ( Vespertilio 

 pipistrella) is the commonest species, occurring over the whole 

 of Britain. The long-eared Bat [Plecotus auriitis) is also not 

 uncommon, and is distinguished by its greatly elongated ears, 



Fig. 231.- 



-A, Head of Vampire-bat {Alectops titer). B, Head of Fox-bat 

 i^Pteroptts persottatHS) — after Gray. 



which are confluent above the forehead. The largest British 

 species is the Noctule ( Vespertilio noctula), which measures as 

 much as fifteen inches in expanse of wing. 



Fam. 2. Rhinolophidce. — The second family of the Insec- 

 tivorous Bats is that of the Rhinolophidce or Horse-shoe Bats, 

 which in most respects are very similar to the VespertilionidcB, 

 but are distinguished by the posses-sion of a complex leaf-like 

 apparatus appended to the nose. Of this family, two British 

 species are known — the Greater and Lesser Horse-shoe Bats 

 {Rhinolophus ferrum-equinum and R. hipposideros). 



Fam. 3. Phyllostotriidce. — This i's the only remaining family 

 of the Insectivorous Bats, and comprises the well-known Vam- 

 pire-bats (fig. 231, A), distinguished by having leaf-hke nasal 

 appendages, and by the fact that the ears are of small size ; 

 whereas in the preceding they are always very large {Rhinolo- 



