1842.] Megadermata and certain other Vespertilionida. 261 



ting, inflicting a triple puncture like that of a leech : the lower ca- 

 nines are small and not compressed, and there are four bilobate inferior 

 incisors, the medial separated by a wide interval. Instead of the sharp- 

 ly tuberculated molars of the Phyllostomes, and of that division in parti- 

 cular styled Vampyrus by systematists, there are even no true molars 

 whatever, intimating that the accustomed food requires no mastication ; 

 but there are two false molars immediately behind the canine in the up- 

 per-jaw, and three antagonizing with them in the lower, that present 

 only keenly cutting edges, adapted for severing in the manner of a pair 

 of scissors. Nor is this all: — as in carnivorous animals, wherein the food 

 is more readily assimilated, the intestines are consequently less prolong- 

 ed than in vegetable -feeders, so in the present most remarkable genus, 

 where blood — warm from the living veins, and even quickened by 

 the vital principle, — constitutes the aliment, the intestines (as I have 

 been informed) proceed almost straight to the anus. In short, we have 

 here an animal duly organized for the mode of life so often described, 

 which the Phillostomata are not ; and there can scarcely be a doubt 

 that numerous species of Desmodus exist in tropical America, being 

 everywhere the veritable Vampyres which attack man and other 

 large animals, as a general rule during their sleep, and inflicting 

 wounds so gently with their keenly pointed and lancet-like instru- 

 ments of incision, that no sense of pain follows to awake their victim. 

 Nevertheless, admitting the great probability of this, there still re- 

 main some matters for further explanation, to which my discovery 

 of the predatory habits of the Megaderma seems to afford a key. 



Among the South American Vespertilionidce having teeth of the 

 ordinary conformation, Professor Bell describes the tongue of the 

 Phyllostomata to have " a number of wart-like elevations, so arranged 

 as to form a complete circular suctorial disc, when they are brought 

 into contact at their sides, which is done by means of a set of muscular 

 fibres, having a tendon attached to each of these warts."* Now, 

 for what purpose can this be ? For drawing forth the juices of fruits ? 

 I suspect not : and Spix, it may be remarked, expressly designates his 

 Glossophaga amplexicaudata, (which, however, presents another modi- 

 fication of the tongue, this being slender and elongate, and furnished 

 with hair-like papillae,) Sanguisuga crudelissima, a very cruel blood- 

 sucker; an expression which would seem to imply habits analogous 



* Dr. Todd's Cycl. Anat. and Phys., Art. Cheiroptera. 



2 M 



