ORDEE OF CHEIEOPTEEA. 527 



Genus Taphozom. — The animals belonging to this genus are 

 natives of Africa and the hot parts of Asia. They are charac- 

 terised by a hollow forehead and a somewhat short tail, which, 

 instead of being confounded in the substance of the interfemoral 

 membrane, as in the majority of the Cheiroptera, is detached and 

 projects downwards. Their wings generally have a span of from 

 eight to twelve inches. 



Genus NocfUios. — The Noctilios have thick cleft lips, like a 

 hare-lip — a conformation which gives their physiognomy quite a 

 repulsive aspect. Only two species are known, and these belong 

 to Guiana, Brazil, and Peru. 



Genus VespertiUo. — This genus comprises the species more par- 

 ticularly designated by the name of Bats. Nearly all of them 

 have a long tail, and the interfemoral membrane very developed. 

 Though generally of small size, they yet devour a large quantity 



Fig. 229. — Heud of Long-eared But [Plecotus auritus], 



of insects. One of them, the Pipistrella, eats upwards of seventy 

 common flies at a meal. Like many of the Cheiroptera, they emit a 

 musky odour that immediately betrays their presence. They are 

 very numerous, and have their representatives in all parts of the 

 world. 



Among the most common, we may mention the Noctilio, which 

 inhabits France and nearly the whole of Europe ; the Pipistrella, 

 which is also found everywhere in Europe, as well as in Africa and 

 India, — the span of its wings does not exceed nine inches ; the 

 Long-eared Bat (Fig. 229), so named because of its enormous 

 ears, — it is met with in France and other parts of Europe, though 

 it is somewhat scarce ; the VespertiUo nnirina, which lives in 

 numerous flocks in Europe and Algeria, — it is the largest of the 

 Vespcrtilionidce., measuring eighteen inches. 



