BATS 67 



lophus hippoerepis) require brief consideration. These carry on the nose 

 peculiar membranous appendages by which the acuteness of the sense of 

 touch is probably further increased. They are consequently described as 

 Leaf-Nosed Bats, in contrast to the Smooth-Nosed species, which, like 

 the long-eared bat, do not possess these leafy 

 appendages. Both are insectivorous, though 

 in exceptional cases they may suck the blood 

 of other bats or of sleeping game. The much 

 dreaded Vampire of South America (Vant- 

 pyrus spcctrinu), of which so many gruesome 

 stories are told, is also principally an insect- 

 eater, and only attacks birds and mammals for 

 the purpose of sucking their blood when there 

 is a dearth of insect food. 



2. The Fruit-eating (Frugivorous) Bats TT 



x ° ', Head or the Large Horseshoe 



inhabit exclusively the warmer countries of bat. (Twice natural size.) 

 the Old World. (Why?) The best-known 



species is the Flying Fox or Kalong (Pteropus edulis), an animal 

 about 16 inches long. It is found in the East Indian Islands. Living 

 exclusively on fruit, its molar teeth have blunt tubercles. It does not 

 hibernate. (Why ?) 



ORDER VI. : INSECT-EATERS (INSECTIVORA). 



Small plantigrade animals with five toes provided with strong claws. 

 In the dentition all three types of teeth are represented. The molars 

 have pointed prominences. The nose is prolonged into a proboscis. 



Family 1 : Moles (Talpina). 



The Mole (Talpa euro pee a). 



(Length about 6 inches.) 

 As the bat is adapted to a life in the air, and the whale to an 

 exclusively aquatic existence, so the body of the mole is more especially 

 constructed for life in the earth/' 



A. Adaptation of the Body for a Subterranean Existence. 



1. The fore-limbs act as shovels by the help of which the animal digs 

 (or, rather, scrapes) its underground passages, at the same time throwing 



* The German name for the mole, viz., maiohourf, signifies "a thrower up of mull," 

 i.e., mould. 



