534 



MAMMALIA. 



The Vampires have been divided into a certain number of 

 genera, which we will not delay to examine, inasmuch as they 

 only differ from each other in a very trifling manner. 



The principal are — the Vampires, properly called the Phyllos- 

 tomes ; the Glossophages, the Stenodermes, and the Desmodes. 



To the first section belongs the Spectre Vampire (Fig. 232), the 

 king of Vampires, so far as size is concerned. A mature specimen 

 is never less than twentj'-six inches across the wings, and sometimes 



Fig. 2112. — Spectre Vampire {i'tuuinrus spectru/a). 



attains twenty-seven and a half inches. To the second section 

 belongs the Javelin Phyllostoma (Fig. 233), described by Bufibn, 

 and which is a smaller species, measuring from twelve to fourteen 

 inches across the wing's. 



The Glossophages are recognisable by their long, thin, and 

 extensible tongue, furnished with hair on its surface, which they 

 protrude and retract with extreme rapidity ; from whence their 

 name, which signifies " eat-tongue." 



