1865.] 



Sclater on the Mammals of South America. 



609 



cult order. Dr. Peters divides the Chiroptera into seven families, of 

 which the subjoined table shows the geographical distribution : — * 



I. 



Neotropical 

 Region. 



2. 



ne arctic 

 Region. 



3. 



Pal.earctic 



Region. 



4. 



/Ethiopian 

 Region. 



5. 



Lemuhian 

 Region. 



6. 

 Indian 



Region. 



7- 



Australian 



Region. 



Phyl Iostomatidse 

 NoctiliouidEB 

 Molossidee 

 Vespertilionidee 



Ph y 1 Iostomatidse 

 Vespertil ion idee 



Rhinolophidee 



Molossidee 

 Vespertilionidee 



Pteropodidre 



Me^adermatidce 



Khmolophidee 



Noctilionidce 



Molossidee 



Vespertilionidce 



Pteropodfdffi 

 Rhinolophidee 



Molossidee 

 Vespertilionidee 



Pteropodidee 



Me<;adermatidee 



Rhmolophida) 



Noctilionidce 



Molossidee 



Vespertilionidee 



Pteropodidee 



Megadermatidee 



Khinolophidee 



Noctilionidae 



Molossidee 



Vespertilionidee 



It will be observed that the true frugivorous bats, forming the 

 family Pterpodidae, which on account of their three-jointed index- 

 finger and peculiar dentition are often regarded as constituting a 

 separate sub-order of the Chiroptera, are altogether wanting in the 

 New World, their place in the economy of nature being taken by 

 certain forms of the more typical Chiroptera, the structure of which is 

 so modified as to enable them to perform the same functions. So, 

 likewise, are the two first families of the Insectivorous section. In 

 the third family the Phyllostoroatidae, or Vampires, we have a group 

 purely American, and, indeed, forming one of the most characteristic 

 features of the Neotropical Fauna, as they are nearly entirely confined 

 to the Neotropical area, only one or two species wandering beyond its 

 limits into the neighbouring parts of the northern region of the New 

 World. 



The Phyllostomatidfe form one of the three families of Insectivorous 

 Bats which are provided with a peculiar dermal development on the 

 upper surface of the nose. From the Leaf-nosed Bats of the Old 

 World (Megadermatidas and Bhinolophidas) the Phyllostomatidse are 

 at once distinguishable by having three, instead of two, bony phalanges 

 in the middle finger. With the exception of the genus Macrotus the 

 ears generally stand asunder from one another, as in our Horseshoe 

 Bats (Bliinolophus), but they are always provided with an "ear-clapper" 

 or tragus, placed in front of the aural orifice, which is wanting in the 

 Khinolophi. They are divided by Dr. Peters into five sub-families, 

 concerning which we may say a few words. 



The typical PhyllostomatidaB or Vampyri of Dr. Peters contain 

 the genera Phyllostoma, Vampyrus, Carollia, and Macrotus. They are 

 insectivorous, although the large Vampyrus spectrum has been stated, 

 upon what is apparently good evidence, to be addicted to blood -sucking, 

 like the true Desmodinse. The second sub-family (Glossophagina), 

 comprehending genera with an elongated snout and a long producible 

 and •harp-pointed tongue, is also insectivorous. The next sub-family 

 (Stenodermatina) contains only frugivorous bats, much like the 

 Vampires in external appearance, but with teeth-characters modified 

 to suit their diet. The fourth sub-family, as arranged by Dr. Peters, 



* In accordance 'with the convenient (though not strictly classical) system 

 generally adopted in this country, I have so far modified Dr. Peters' family names 

 as to bring them all to a uniform termination in idse. 



