THE FRUGIVOROUS BATS. 
3 
TRTBE II. VESPERTILIONIDiE, Gray, Lesson.— Gen. Vespertilio, Linn.— BATS. 
The tribe of the Bats comprehends various and numerous families, 
all closely associated. Throughout the whole the fingers of the an- 
terior extremity are much prolonged, and enveloped in a membrane 
usually naked, forming true wings ; (he thumb is considerably apart, 
but not opposable, and is armed with a claw ; the posterior extremi- 
ties are weak, furnished with five equal toes ; there are three sorts 
of well characterized teeth. 
A striking peculiarity has latelj' been pointed out in the oste- 
ology of the superior extremity, so remarkably employed in this 
tribe, which must not be omitted. We allude to the existence oi a 
particular bone, placed behind the articulation of the arm with the 
fore-arm, and presenting in this joint an arrangement altogether 
parallel to that of the patella in the knee-joint. This bone, analo- 
gous to the olecranon process, and which may be designated the 
patella of the anterior extremity, is not, w'e believe, found in any 
other of the Mammalia, not even in the Galeopitheci ; whereas it 
exists in the Insectivorous as well as in the Frugivorous Bats, al- 
though in some of the former it is rudimentary. 
FAMILY I. FRUGIVORA.— FRUGIVOROUS BATS. 
S^ii. Meganvctekes Latreille, Reg. Anim. 
CHARACTERS OF THE FAMILY. 
The Molar Teeth with flat and slightly crested crowms. 
The Index with three phalanges, and usually with a nail. 
Inhabit the East Indies, the East Indian Archipelago, New Holland, Isle of France, Africa. 
These Bats, as implied in M. Latreille’s designation, are usu- 
ally of larger dimensions. In the present state of the science they 
form a considerable number of genera, upon which we shall make a 
few remarks. 
Being frugivorous, their dental apparatus differs somewhat from 
that of the other Bats. Their molars, instead of being studded with 
tubercles and acute points, exhibit an elongated crown, smooth, or 
limited to its possessing a small crest on the edges, especially the 
exterior one. This character is remarkable, inasmuch as it is in- 
termediate between those of the Carnivora and Herbivora, properly 
so called, and is found in this group alone, where it undergoes some 
modifications. As to the canines and incisors, they very much cor- 
respond in their arrangement, direction, form, and usual number, 
to those of the Monkeys, with one striking exception. The wings 
of these Bats are usually neither so broad nor so long as those of 
the Insectivora ; and generally they arise more from the back than 
the flanks. Another striking peculiarity is, that the fore-finger is 
always provided with all its phalanges, and (with only one exception, 
we believe) is terminated by a small nail ; whilst in the Insectivora 
it wants, as in the other three fingers, both the nail and its phalanx. 
As to the interfemoral membrane, it is always but slightly developed, 
and usually completely rudimentary. 
The membranes, then, in the Frugivora, do not possess the same 
extent of development as in the succeeding family. No more do 
we find in their avenues to sensation those membranous prolonga- 
tions which are destined at one time to augment their sensibilit}', 
and at another time to diminish it ; in other words, those oral and 
nasal coverings, whose presence produces so grotesque and striking 
an appearance. 
This family is essentially frugivorous ; though, as a Dog may eat 
bread, so the species belonging to it may accustom themselves to 
devour small Birds, perhaps, and other animal matters. Their gape 
is usually small. They live chiefly on mellow fruits ; they also con- 
sume flowers. Most of them are nocturnal, and impatient of the 
light of day, while others, again, are all alive and active even un- 
der the direct rays of the sun. They produce but one at a birth. 
Finally, they live in numerous troops, some upon trees, others 
among rocks, and others in old ruined buildings. It was in the 
great pyramid that Genffroy-St-Hilaire discovered in Egypt the 
species which bears his .name. 
The Frugivora are unknown in America and Europe. They 
abound on the Continent of India, in its Archipelago, in Egypt, Se- 
negal, the Cape, and even in New Holland. 
(A.) Tail-less Roussettes, (Roussettes sans 
QUEUE.) 
GENUS I. PTEROPUS.— ROUSSETTE BATS. 
Syn. Les Roussettes. — Cuv. Reg. Anim. I. 113. 
Pteropus Briss. Reg. Anim Illigcr Prodr. — Geoffroy-St-Hilaire, 
Ann. du Mas. tome XV. 86. 
generic characters. 
Head prolonged, straight, conical. Muzzle slender. Incisors vertical. 
Interfemoral Membrane slightly developed. Fore-finger generally 
with a claw. 
The Dental Formula 
2|2-l-C-(- (1 F-f 4 nr 5) M_16 or (8 
I 2 +C+ (rp-p 5 ) M “ 18 " 
=34 or 30 
The Roussettes have trenchant incisors in each jaw, and molars 
with flat crowns. These grinding teeth have generally two longi- 
tudinal and parallel furrows, whicli are worn down by detrition. 
Hence, these Bats live chiefly on fruits, of which tliey destroy large 
quantities ; yet they do not miss an opportunity of pursuing Birds 
and small Quadrupeds. These are the largest known Bats, and 
their flesh is eaten. They inhabit the East Indies. 
Their membrane is widely sloped off between the thighs, and 
tliey have no tail, or a very small one. Their index finger is one haif 
shorter than the middle one, and bears a third phalanx, and usually a 
small nail, which is wanting in the other Bats. The other fingers 
have only two phalanges. Their muzzle is simple, their nostrils se- 
parate, the ears middle-sized, without opercula, and their tongue 
papillate, the papillte being curved backwards. Their stomach con- 
sists of an extremely elongated and unequally bulging sac. They are 
found only in Southern Asia, the East Indian Archipelago, Bourbon, 
and Isle of France, New Holland, Van Diemen’s Land, and Africa. 
1. PTEROPUS EDULIS EDIBLE ROUSSETTE. 
Syn. La Rousse-ite noih Cuv. Reg. Anim. I. 113. 
PnoROrus eoolis — Geoir. Ann. JIiis. XV. p. 90.— Desm. Mam. No. 
137. 
Vespebxilio VAMPvnua. (in part.)— Linn. Gmcl. I. 
ItOUSSEri E EOULE, OU KALONG. — 'IVmm. 
Icon. Temm. Mon. Mam. II. pi. 35, fig. I, (head.) — 1. pi. 15, fig. 2 , 
(cranium,) 3, (teeth,) 4, .5, 6, (of the young.) 
Pterofus Javanicus. — Horst'. Zool. .Jav. 
Tcrnate Bat. — Penn. Quadr. II. pi. 103. 
SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 
The Hair on the muzzle, cheeks, and throat, dark brown ; on the sides 
of the neck and upper part of the head bright red ; a transverse reddish 
band, and a black band, between the shoulders. 
Inhabits the Sonda Islands, .lava, the Moluccas. 
The Edible Roussettes remain during the day suspended in large 
numbers from the trees. The iiihabitanis are obliged to protect 
their fruits with nets, on account of the devastations of these Bats. 
Their cry is loud, and resembling that of a Goose. They are taken 
by means of a bag, hung for that purpose at the end of a pole. The 
natives find the flesh delicate, but Europeans dislike it, on account 
of its strong odour of musk. 
The Edible Bat is the largest known species, and taking the lead of the 
others, we shall be somewhat more ample in the details. Its forms are 
