2G2 Notice of the Sanguivorous habits of the Megadermata $c. [No. 123. 



to those of the Megaderms ; for these bite away at their victim in savage 

 earnest, while drawing the life-blood from its veins. In short, there are 

 two classes of blood -sucking Bats, — one gentle and insidious, which 

 attack any large animal during its sleep, are expressly organized for 

 this purpose, and doubtless derive their whole sustenance in this way, — 

 and another openly rapacious, which ferociously attack (it may be pre- 

 sumed) any small warm-blooded creature that they can master, and 

 more especially, it is probable, prey on the smaller and weaker members 

 of their own tribe, first drawing their blood, and then devouring them, 

 as instanced by the oriental Megaderms ; and to this latter class, I ima- 

 gine, many of the large leaf-nosed Bats of South America appertain 

 (though also known to feed both on fruit and insects), and probably 

 also at least the larger Rhinolophi* 



With regard to the Megaderma lyra, I am of opinion (founded 

 on further observation of the captive animal), that it is in no degree 

 whatever frugivorous, and the structure of its mouth would imply 

 that it is no insect-hunter ; neither do I think it evinces any dis- 

 position to attack small birds, either at roost or moving : but I 

 am led to infer that the smaller Vespertilionidce constitute its main, 

 if not sole, subsistence, and suspect that these are seized while on the 

 wing, and carried off to be devoured at leisure in some quiet recess, 

 the preyer meanwhile sucking the vital fluid from the neck of its 

 victim. There is more energy about it than I have observed in any 

 other kind of Bat, at least during the day : go when you will, it is 

 always lively and on the alert ; and the expression of its physiognomy 

 is far from dull, having comparatively large eyes for a Bat, which are 

 bright and prominent. The species does not appear to be rare about 

 Calcutta. 



I may further remark, that the inguinal teats are well developed in 

 this genus, as in the Rhinolophi ; equally so, indeed, with the pectoral 

 teats, insomuch that no one who examined them could suppose that 

 they are mere sebaceous glands, as suggested by Prof. Bell in the 

 case of the Rhinolophi. This fact is not uninteresting with relation 

 to the described position of the teats in the genus Cheiromys. 



* The tongue of the Megaderms presents nothing remarkable in its conformation; 

 but the lips are, in this instance, expressly modified for suction, which is not the case 

 in Phyllostoma. It is not unlikely that the West Indian genus Mormoops, of Leach, 

 is another raptorial form. 



