THE BULL-DOG BATS OF AMERICA. 
17 
(A.) BULL-DOG BATS OF AMERICA. 
1. DYSOPES RUFUS RUFOUS BULL-DOG BAT. 
.. Syn, Molossds BUPUS. — Geoff. Ann. Mus. VI. 155. — Desra. Mam. 
Dpsopes RUFUS, (Molossc Marron on Doguin.) — Temm. Mon. Mam. 1. 
230. 
Icon. Dvsopes pebOtis — Pr. Max. Abbild. 
Temm. Mon. Mam. pi. 23, fig. 17, 18, 19, (cranium and teeth.) 
SPECIFIC CHABACTEBS. 
Ti!e Hair dark rcddi-sli-hrown above, I.ght reddish-brown beneath. 
The Membranes and Ears dark brown. 
The Muzzle very broad and short. The Tail robust. 
Inhabits Surinam and Brazil. 
The size of the Rufous Bull-Dog Bat is considerably larger than that 
of the Common Bat of English authors, the length of the body being up- 
wards of three inches, of the tail two, and across, from tip of the one 
wing to that of the other, sixteen inches. Its muzzle is of enormous size, 
very full and short, and somewhat resembling that of the Bull-Dog ; the 
gape of the mouth is also very large, and the external ear exceedingly 
developed ; the interfenioral iiienibrane is connected, anale-shaped, to the 
middle of the tail, enveloping the upper portion, and leaving the other 
half free, and without any membraneous edging; the lips are surrounded 
with hairs, hut liave no verriic® or warts about them ; the inner parts of 
the ears, and the base of the outer surface, are clad with hair. The fur 
of the upper parts of the animal is of a deep reddish chestnut colour, of 
the lower of a lighter reddish chestnut ; the ears and membranes dusky 
brown. 
M. Geoffrey first described tliis animal ; and M. Temminck, who, in the 
Low Countries, in the year 1827, examined a specimen preserved in 
spirits of wine, states tliat its habitat is iiiiknowii. Tlie individual which 
supplied Prince Maximilian’s description and plate was procured in the 
Brazils. 
2. DYSOPES ALECTO — BLACK BULL-DOG BAT. 
Syn- Dysopes Alecto, (Molosse ALEcro.)--.Temm, Mon. Mam. I. 231. 
MoLOssus Alecto. — Less. Mam. 101. 
Icon. Temm. Mon. Mam. pi. 20, (old.) — pi. 23, fig. 23 to 26, (cranium and 
teetli.) 
SPECIFIC CHABACTEBS. 
The Hair deep and shining black. The Membranes small and very 
narrow. The Tail free for the greater part of its length. 
Inhabits Brazil. 
The lengtli of the body of the Black Bull-Dog Bat is very much the 
same as that of the one last described, whilst its extreme breadth is not 
more than a foot. The wings are hence somewhat disproportioned to 
the size of tho body, being very narrow, .as if clifiped ; the tail is free for 
about two-tbirds of its dimensions. The ears are much broader than 
they are elevated ; they are united in front, and are prolonged, rih.and- 
like, tow.ards the nostrils, which are almost united. Tlie head is short, 
and surmounted by a very elevated coronal crest, wliicli runs down the 
clianfriii. The canines, having eacli a strong heel, are contiguous, and 
two fine bilobed incisors project in front of them. Some long hairs ap- 
pear on the lower part of the back, but the rest of the fur appears like 
very fine silk velvet, having a beautiful lustre; the membrane which con- 
nects the arm with the fore-arm is clothed with close and short hairs, 
which extend along the arm, and between the origin of the two last fin- 
gers. The colour, above and below, is a brilliant and shining black ; the 
membranes and face are also black. The additional aural appendage is 
broad, and the cpmmon one, which is not high, is in the shape of a semi- 
circle. 
This new species was introduced by Temminck, who justly remarks, 
that its hideous physiognomy, short feet, and sombre colouring, make the 
name lie lias bestowed peculiarly appropriate. 
Its habits are quite unknown. 
3. DYSOPES ABRASUS.— SHORN BULL-DOG BAT. 
Syn. Dysopes abbasus, (Molosse A foils bas.)— T emm. Mon. Mam. I. 232. 
Molossus abbasus. — Less. Mam. 102. 
Icon. Temm. Mon. Mam. pL 21, (young.) 
SPECIFIC CHABACTEBS. 
The Hair very short but thick, very bright reddish-brown above ; 
lighter and more dingy beneath. The Membranes black. 
Inhabits Brazil. 
The Shorn Bull-Dog Bat has much the same forms, but is somewhat 
less than the preceding. The lesser half of the tail is free of the inter- 
femoral membrane ; the ears are nearly as broad as they are high ; they 
are distinct, and not united upon the chanfrin ; the muzzle terminates in 
the nostrils, which are far apart. The head is short andjohtuse. The ca- 
nines have a large heel, and are continuous, whilst two delicate bilobed in- 
cisors project in front of them. In the young, the canines are somewhat 
separated, and between them four bilobed incisors are found, somewhat 
crowded together. 
The fur is very spare, but close; and the hairs appear more or less 
to adhere throughout their course. On the forehead, and tlie membrane 
which unites the arm and fore-arm, also on a stripe along the hitter part, 
and at the base of the little finger, the skin is covered witli sliort and 
close hair ; lint all these parts are naked beneath. The upper parts are 
of a veiy bright and shining chestnut colour, somewhat duller and paler 
beneath ; the membranes are black. This species was first described by 
Temminck. Its habits are unknown. 
4. DYSOPES NASUTUS LONG-NOSED BULL-DOG BAT. 
Syn. Dysopes nasutus, (Molosse velox.) — Temm. Mon. Mam. I. 23.3. 
Nyctinomus nasutus. — Gray, in Mag. Zool. and Bot. II. 501. 
Icon. Nyctinomus Bbasiliensis. — Isid. Geoff, in Ann. des Sc. NaU I. pi. 22. 
— Copied in Zool. Journ. 1. pi. 11. 
Molossus nasutus. — Spix, Sim. et Vesp. Bras., pi. 33, fig. 7, (indif- 
ferent ) 
Temm. Mon. Mam. pi. 24, fig. 2, 3, (skeleton.) 
SPECIFIC characters. 
The Hair yellowish-brown above; greyish-brown beneath; a band 
detached, from tlie rest of the hair, on the internal surface of the mem- 
branes ; the long hairs of the hinder feet silvery white. The Membranes 
brown. 
The Nostrils prolonged. 
Inhabits Brazil. 
The Long-nosed Biill-Dog Bat is one wbicli bas long been known as 
very common, and widely spread over the Brazils. It has been men- 
tioned by M. Natterer of Vienna, by the Prince de Neuwied, and many 
other travellers, and specimens have long been preserved in the museiinis 
of the Low Countries, of Berlin, Munich, &c. By a fortunate mistake, 
however, eleven specimens having been transmitted from South Ame- 
rica by M. Augustiis-St- Hilaire, they fell, many years ago, into the hands 
of M. Isidore-St-Hilaire, who, apparently ignorant that they were pretty 
well known, made his dchut in the Science by publishing a long account 
of tliem in the Ann, des Sciences Naturelles. He takes occasion, from 
the subject, to discuss the dogma laid down by the celebrated Buffon, 
that the animals of the one Continent are wanting in the other, and shows 
that, although this is very extensively, it is not universally true. At the 
time he wrote, (1824,) he could say, “ That, of all the genera of Simia, 
Lemiires, Chiroptera, and Insectivora, now known, there is not one, I 
may venture to affirm, whose existence in both Continents is unques- 
tionable. The first instance that we find of this simultaneous existence 
in the two worlds, is jn the Carnivora, where we come to the Ursi, 
Feles, &c.” He then goes on to prove, at length, that this Dysopes is 
unequivocally of the same genus with that section which is more common 
in the Old World, and concludes the interesting discussion in these 
words : — “ We must not forget, tliat the truth of the idea (Buffon’s) 
which 1 have just proved erroneous, seemed demonstrated by the expe- 
rience of ages, and consequently that the exceptions to tlie rule are very 
rare. Difference of country neitlier can nor will any longer be a proof 
of difference of organization, but it can and must always be an indication 
of it : it can no longer prove it; but it ouglit always to make us suspect 
it ; in a word, it can no longer command, but it will always counsel ; and 
thus the Naturalist, witlioiit blindly following the route it points out, 
ought carefully to collect its indications, that lie may advance with firmer 
and truer step in the path he has thought fit to pursue.” 
The whole length of tiiis Bat is about four inches, and its breadth across 
the wings between eleven and twelve. The snout is slender, the nostrils 
prominent, the muzzle short, and the lips marked with transverse wrinkles. 
The ears are broad, roundish, not united ; the tail is long, and the upper 
and longest portion engaged in the inteifemoral memhrane, the rest being 
free. The fur is short, very soft, and somewhat shining. All the supe- 
ior parts, and the head, are of a dull or fawn brown ; beneath, greyish- 
brown prevails ; a stripe, distinguished from the rest of the coat, extends 
along the flanks on the internal side of the membrane ; long hairs cover 
the toes, and these are of a silvery whiteness. I he membranes are 
brown. 
Of its habits we have seen no account. 
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VOL, n. 
