BATS 129 
and a distinct tragus. It abounds around the Pyramids and 
ruined temples of Egypt. 
The free-tailed bats, or family “ Emballonuridce,” are so 
called on account of their tail being free from the membrane 
which joins the legs. They are chiefly found in Africa. 
The principal genus is “ Taphozous,” or the tomb-bats, 
which, like the nycteris, are mostly found in Egypt, where there 
are so many tombs and excavations to receive them. 
Another important genus is “ Molossus,” or the mastiff bats, 
so named on account of their broad, wide-mouthed muzzles and 
large dog-like ears. They are noticeable for having, unlike the 
other families, a very thick tail. All Molossi have short strong 
legs, very broad feet, and callosities at the base of the thumbs, 
while there is only a single pair of incisor teeth in the upper 
jaw. The hind feet have no attachment to the wings, the mem- 
branes of which can be folded away between the arms and legs, 
while the membrane which joins the legs can be drawn upwards 
along the tail. They appear to be better adapted for crawling 
than any other bats. They are confined to tropical and sub- 
tropical America. 
The large Malayan “ naked-bat ” (Chiromeles torquata ) takes 
its name from its thick and puckered skin, which is almost 
entirely naked, and is further peculiar in that the large first 
hind-toe can be opposed to the other digits. 
The great family of vampire bats ( Bhyllostomatid.ee ) is con- 
fined entirely to tropical America and the West Indies. 
All vampires are strong flyers, but present great differences 
in the nature of their food, some devouring insects, while some 
are blood-suckers. In two genera ( Chilonycteris and Morops) 
the nose-leaf is not present, but its place is taken by chin-flaps, 
or lappets of skin under the chin. One of the chin-flapped bats 
( Morops blainvillei ) is particularly remarkable for its bright 
orange-coloured fur and the delicate structure of its head, which 
is adorned with elaborate ears and a delicate tragus. The 
harmless vampires (Vampyrus) belong to a class of genera in 
which the tail (when present) perforates the membrane between 
the legs, and the nose-leaf is spear-shaped. The largest is the 
Brazilian great vampire ( Vampyrus spectrum), which measures 
28 inches across the wings, the tail being wanting. It is insec- 
tivorous. The javelin vampires (Phyllostoma) have a broader 
muzzle than the harmless vampires, and are also blood-suckers. 
The short-nosed vampires (Artibeus) seem to feed on fruit, while 
Desmodus ritfus, the most famous blood-sucker, has long chisel- 
like incisor teeth, and pierces wounds in the skin of its victims 
(generally cattle) and sucks the blood as it oozes out. There 
are other forms of short-nosed vampires found in tropical 
America ; but they are all much the same in their habits. 
