MAMMALIA. 479 
Group 2. Frugivora. 
The frugivorous tribe of bats has no representatives in the New World; 
the few genera of which it is composed belong chiefly to tropical Asia. 
They have molar teeth, with rounded eminences for bruising and grinding 
their food; their intestinal canal is very long, in some instances seven times 
as long as the body itself, indicating that these animals were destined to 
subsist, in part at least, upon vegetable diet. Like many of the monkeys, 
however, they are probably omnivorous in some degree, feeding chiefly upon 
fruits, but pursuing small birds, or large soft-bodied insects, which may be 
obtained without much difficulty. ‘This tribe contains but one family. 
Fam. Preropopip#. Is characterized by the entire absence of the nose- 
leaf, the simplicity of the ears, the shortness of the tail. The flesh of many 
of the frugivorous bats is eaten as a dainty by the inhabitants of the coun- 
tries in which they are found, having a flavor which has been compared to 
that of the hare and partridge. Possibly some of the largest kinds were 
known to the ancients, and gave rise to the fabulous account of the harpy. 
The genus Pteropus (roussette bats) belongs exclusively to the Old 
World, and comprehends numerous species. There are trenchant incisors 
in each jaw, and the molars have flat crowns; the food consists chiefly of 
fruits, of which these animals destroy large quantities; they pursue birds 
and small quadrupeds with much success. This genus includes the largest 
species known of bats; their flesh is eaten; they inhabit the Hast Indies. 
The tail is absent, or nearly so; the membranous expansion is deeply 
notched between the legs; the snout is simple, somewhat elongated, and 
the nostrils widely separated; the ears are of a middling size. The species 
belong to Asia and the Indian Archipelago. 
The common roussette (P. vulgaris) is represented on pl. 117, jig. 9. 
These animals generally preserve a perfect silence during the day ; but if 
disturbed, they will emit sharp piercing shrieks. 
The genus Harpyia (tube-nosed roussette) comprehends a single species, 
which inhabits Timor. It is a singular looking bat, having nostrils project- 
ing in a kind of cylinder, and a claw on the fore-finger. 
The genus Cephalotes contains also a single species, from tropical Asia. 
The membranes of their wings, instead of meeting at their flanks, are joined 
to each other on the middle of the back, to which they adhere by a vertical 
and longitudinal partition. 
The genus Macroglossa (great-tongued roussette) is very closely allied to 
Pteropus. It is characterized by the extreme length of the head, the 
absence of false molars, the great development of the posterior molar, and 
the extensile tongue. One species, from tropical Asia. 
The genus Pachysoma (stout-bodied roussette) is composed of at least 
six species, which resemble Pteropus, and are found inhabiting tropical 
Asia. 
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