OEDEE, OF CHEIEOPTEEA. 529 



across the wings twenty-one inches. The smallest is the Tricuspid 

 Rhinolophus, which measures eight inches. 



Europe possesses two species, which are proper to it ; these are 

 the Lesser Horse-shoe Rhinolophus, or Bifer, whose pelage is of a 

 fine lustrous colour, and which measures about ten inches ; and 

 the Great Horse-shoe Rhinolophus, or Unifer, eighteen inches 

 across the wings. Both are common to France. 



Genus Megadermes. — The Megadermes have the nose surmounted 

 by a very ample and very complicated leaf. The ears are large, 

 and their interfemoral membrane is highly developed ; they 

 have no tail. They are found exclusively in Africa and Asia. 

 Of the four or five species known, the most important are the 

 Leaf-nosed Megadermes, which inhabits Madagascar, and the 

 Lyre Megadermes, found in Senegal. The latter measures four- 

 teen inches across the wings. 



Beside the Megadermes are ranged the Rhinopomes, which 

 are distinguished by a smaller nasal leaf, and a long thin tail. 

 They inhabit Egypt and Bengal. 



Family of Ptebopina. — The Pteropus (Fig. 230), commonly 

 called Roussette by the French, because of it being generally of a 

 red or brown colour, and Kalony, or Flying Fox, by the English, is 

 the largest of the Cheiroptera. There are some which attain the 

 size of a Squirrel, and measure no less than four feet across the 

 wings. In the majority of the species the interfemoral membrane 

 is rudimentary, as is also the tail ; some are even without a vestige 

 of the latter appendage. 



The dominant characteristic of the Pteropus is to be found in 

 its dentition, and in its regimen ; the molar teeth have a flat, or 

 simply tuberculous crown, consequently it feeds on fruits. The 

 face is totally destitute of nasal leaves, and the ears are but 

 slightly developed. The animals belonging to this family exclu- 

 sively inhabit Africa, Asia, and the Oceanic Islands, particularly 

 the latter region. There are also innumerable quantities in 

 Polynesia, Malaysia, Australia, and Van Dieman's Land; but 

 none are found in Europe or America. 



The Kalonys are not the redoubtable animals represented by 

 early travellers, who had the privilege of becoming first acquainted 

 with them. These explorers allowed themselves to be imposed 



M M 



