324 
NATURAL HISTORY. 
tlie animal. The hind limbs are short and stout, and the feet remarkably large, and their whole 
lower surface, including that of the toes, is covered with a soft, loose, deeply-wrinkled skin, that of 
each toe showing a strong central groove with short grooves at right-angles to it, very much after the 
pattern seen in some Geckos or Wall Lizards. This loose, wrinkled skin is also continued along the 
flattened lower surface of the ankle and leg. “ All these peculiarities of structure,” says Mr. Dobson 
“ must accompany some corresponding peculiarities in the habits of this species. ... I have no 
doubt that the denticle at the base of the claw in Mystadna tuberculata compensates that species 
THE NEW ZEALAND SHORT-TAILED BAT. (From the Proceedings of the Zoological Society.) 
exceptionally for the imperfect condition of the fore-limbs as organs of prehension ; and this, taken 
into consideration with tlie peculiar manner in which the wings are protected from injury when not 
employed in flying, and with the manifestly adhesive nature of the sole of the foot and inferior surface 
of the legs, leads me to believe that this species hunts for its insect food, not only in the air, but also 
on the branches and leaves of trees, among which its peculiarities of structure most probably enable it 
to walk about with security and ease.” This and the Brown Pig Bat ( Thyroptera tricolor ), already 
described (p. 310), may be regarded as more especially adapted for climbing than any other members 
of the order Chiroptera. 
CHAPTER VI. 
FAMILY YI.— PHYLLOSTOMID^E, OK YAMPIKES. 
Distinguishing Marks of the PhyUostornidw — Location — Diet —Blood -sucking Propensities — Exaggerations of the Older 
Writers— Testimony of Azara- Darwin’s Evidence Bat-bites— Tlie Witness of Bates, Wallace, Fraser, Prince Maxi- 
milian— Conclusion of the Whole Matter— The Desmodonts and Javelin Bat— The Tongue in the Genus Phyllostoma— 
Blainville’s Bat— Extraordinary Development of Face and Head— Owl-paced Bat— Javelin Bat— Allied Species— 
Vampire Bat— M r. Bates’ Testimony to its Inoffensiveness, and Description of its Habits — Neuwied’s Large-leafed 
Bat — Great - eared Leap Bat— Soricine Bat— Redman’s Bat— Sezekorn’s Leaf Bat— Spectacled Stenoderm 
—Jamaican Stenoderm — Desmodus — Dentition — Blood-sucking Propensities — Tlie Bites— Stomachs of Desmodus— 
Frugivorous and Insectivorous Bats— Concluding Remarks. 
We have already seen that the first group of ordinary Bats includes two sets of species, one 
characterised generally by the possession of dermal complications of the muzzle, the other by the 
absence of any such arrangements j and in like manner the second alliance has also its simple-nosed and 
