38 



THE FOOD OF ANIMALS 



hind-limbs, and in many cases a proboscis-like snout, which has 

 suggested one of the common names. 



BATS (Cheiroptera) 



The larger Bats are fruit-eaters, but the smaller ones (including 

 all the British species) wage war against winged insects in their 

 own element, the air. These Mammals are very similar to the 

 Insectivora in general structure, their most noteworthy peculiarity 

 being the possession of wings, the structure of which is described 



Fig. 331. — Head of Long-tongued Vampire [C/usro7iycteris) 



in another chapter, but which differ altogether from the flying 

 organs of birds. 



A membrane (interfemoral membrane) stretches between the 

 tail and legs of a Bat, into the hollow formed by which captive 

 specimens have been observed to sweep insects before devouring 

 them. During flight this membrane is concave towards the fronts 

 and probably serves as a means of securing prey. 



A good deal of the food available for animals is to be found 

 in crevices and small spaces of various kinds, a good example 

 being furnished by the honey secreted in tubular flowers, or in 

 floral nectaries of tubular shape, a secretion which often serves 

 to attract numerous small insects. In various groups of animals 

 the tongue or other mouth-parts have acquired an elongated form„ 

 enabling them to secure food hidden away in this manner. 

 Certain South American Bats known as Long-tongued Vampires 

 (fig. 331) are a case in point. In this and a number of other 

 cases the name "vampire" is probably slanderous, there being 

 no proof of a blood-sucking habit. Observations made on 

 captive specimens of some of the species belonging to this group 



