70 Two Sj)ecies of Molossus. 



and in some degree opposable ; the thumb of the wing very 

 short, strong and broad ; the upper lips ample, with numerous 

 folds, the nostrils placed in a muzzle projecting beyond the 

 lips ; but what is still more characteristic, is the apparent in- 

 sufficiency of the flying membranes, entirely disproportioned to 

 the volume of their large and heavy body ; their wings, with 

 narrow and deeply cut membranes, are so disproportioned in 

 some species, that one would say that the animal could scarcely 

 make use of them to transport himself to a distance, and that 

 they merely served as a parachute. Their hind feet are very 

 short, the tibia and fibula well separated for their whole length, 

 and of nearly equal thickness ; their muscles are vigorous, the 

 toes armed with hooked nails, and the outer or inner toe free 

 and entirely separated from the others." 



This description applies with remarkable exactness to both 

 the Cheiroptera now under consideration, and the resemblance 

 becomes still more obvious when we compare them with the 

 excellent plates given by Temminck ; where may be found 

 figured several species of similar dimensions, and otherwise 

 closely allied to them, which inhabit Brazil and other parts of 

 South America. From all these they may be readily known, 

 D. cynoccphalus by its crimped ears, and D.fidiginostis by its 

 long legs and long and robust tail. The former differs moreover 

 from all the genus in the short stiff bristles about the face, of 

 which however a few are observed on the D. cheiropus of 

 India. 



What Temminck remarks relative to the insufficiency of 

 their organs of flight is not applicable to them nor the other 

 smaller American species. The wings are indeed narrow in 

 comparison with the Vespertiliones, but long, and no doubt 

 capable of a protracted flight. 



I regret that I can furnish no particulars of the habits of 

 these singular animals, but the attention of our naturalists 

 being now turned to the subject, it is to be hoped that the most 

 ample details concerning them will not long be wanting. 



