336 
NATURAL HISTORY. 
hold an object, and the tongue still have room for protrusion. The little body trembled with the 
eagerness of his actions. As the pulp and juice it could thus reach became exhausted, I expected it 
would drop it ; but, to my surprise, it brought up the wrists to the muzzle, took the berry between 
them, gave it two or three energetic bites, and then held the berry off. So I now understood what the 
long thumbs were for ; for they applied themselves dexterously to the berry, held it firmly, and then, as 
it appeared to me, by a reverse action of the two wrists, the berry was turned round, a fresh hold taken 
by the teeth, and the same licking process renewed, till the seed in the centre was cleaned of the pulp, 
all but the little bit which served for the last tooth-hold. It was then dropped, and the eager little 
muzzle raised for more. I supplied another, and soon I had a little heap of seeds, exactly like those I 
found in the cave.” This account is particularly interesting, mid gives us a clear idea of the proceedings 
of these curious Bats. Mr. Osburn remarks that the Bats when holding the berries greatly reminded 
him of Monkeys, and on placing them among the twigs of the cherry, their climbing habits seem to 
have increased the resemblance.* 
THE SPECTACLED STENODERM.+ 
A peculiar group of this family is formed by the genus Stenoderma and its allies. In these Bats 
the muzzle is short, and the molar teeth do not show the W-like pattern characteristic of the preceding 
forms, but generally have some sharp points and a cutting edge on the outside. The tail, when 
present, is very short, and the interfemoral membrane is deeply cut out behind, so much so in many 
cases as to form a mere narrow border to the legs. The nasal appendages consist of a lance-sliaped 
leaf springing from the middle of a regular horseshoe ; and the ears are separate, and furnished with a 
tragus. The Stenoderms have been divided by authors into several genera, but the characters upon 
which these are founded are for the most part so minute and uncertain that it would be a mere waste 
of time to attempt to give them here. 
The Spectacled Stenoderm (see p. 264) is one of the best-known species of this group, and inhabits 
the larger islands of the West Indies, such as Cuba, St. Domingo, and Jamaica, as well as the con- 
tinental regions of Guiana and Brazil. It is a large species, measuring from four inches to four inches 
and a half in length, and from sixteen inches to twenty inches in expanse of wing. Its fur is brown, 
and there is a whitish arch above each eye. The nose-leaf, although lance-shaped, is somewhat oblong 
in its form, having the sides nearly parallel for some distance ; and the wing-membranes are black. 
There is no tail. The species belongs to the sub-genus Artibeus. 
This species usually inhabits caves and accesses in the rocks, in the former case generally keeping 
near the mouth of the cave ; but when the geological structure of a district is unfavourable for the 
formation of caves, it takes up its abode during the day under the fronds of the cocoa-nut palm. At 
Aquatta Yale, in Jamaica, Mr. Osburn found these Bats clustering on the cocoa-nut trees so thickly, 
and in such numbers, that a single shot brought down twenty-two, while many others flew off, and 
took refuge in neighbouring trees. The food of this species consists of various fruits, the seeds and 
kernels of which are seen in abundance on the floors of the places where they repose during the day. 
Mr. Osburn mentions the bread-nut (Brosimum), the negro-cherry (Cordia cailococca), the mango, and 
the rose-apple (Eugenia jambos), as fruits upon which it feeds in Jamaica. lie also obtained from the 
intestines of several specimens numerous small seeds, which he believed to be those of the fustic 
( Moras tinctorial). The same observer noticed a curious habit of the species when alarmed — the little 
* The rest of the species forming the group Glossophagce have three premolars on each side in each jaw, and the inner 
upper incisors smaller than the outer ones. The lower incisors are more or less deciduous, and sometimes altogether wanting 
in the adult. Lonchoglossa caudifera has a well- developed zygomatic arch, and the interfemoral membrane, tail, and spurs 
very short. It is from Western Brazil and Surinam. The tail in this species is liable to be withdrawn, or lost in preparing 
the skin of the animal, and hence it has been described under the rather contradictory names of caudifcra and ecaudala, and 
a, distinct genus (Anura) was established upon the apparently tailless specimens. In Olossonydens lasiopyga the zygomatic 
arch Is deficient, and the tail is wanting ; the spurs and interfemoral membrane are very short, and the latter is covered with 
hair. It is an inhabitant of Mexico. Cheer onycteris mexicana , from Mexico, and C. minor, from Surinam, have a well- 
developed interfemoral membrane enclosing a very short tail. r J he anterior molars are very narrow, and the first upper pre- 
molar is deciduous. 
t Stenoderma persp icillatwm. 
