29 
TRIBE Iir^MONOPHALANGIA ISTIOPHORA. 
Si/n. IsTioPHORi, (in part.) — Spix, Sim. et Vcspert. Bras. 
Hhinolophina. — Gray, in Mag. Zool. and Bot. II Less. Mara. 
CHARACTERS OF THE TRIBE. 
Tub Index with only one ossified phalanx, the other fingers with two. 
The Nose with one or inoie leafy appendages. 
GENUS XIII. MEGADERMAv— BROAD-WINGED BATS. 
Syn. Lf,s BlfioADERMES. — Cut. Reg. Anim. I. 118. 
Megaderma. — Geoff. Ann. Mus. XV. 197, etal. 
LaVIA. — Gray, in Mag. Zool. et Hot. II. 
GENERIC CHARACTERS. 
SI c+rF-l-.T)M 10 „„ 
The Dental Formula 2-f.C-I-(2 F-f-3)M~I6 ' 
The Nose with three appendages, the upper one vertical, the second 
horizontal, and the lower resembling a horse-shoe. 
The Ears very large, united over the foiehead ; the opercula promi- 
nent. 
The Tongue short and slender. 
The Inteufemoral BL'JMBRane bounded by a straight margin. 
The Tail wanting. 
Inhabit Africa and the East Indies. 
The Broad-winged Bats have their nasal appendages as compli- 
cated as those of the Phyllostoines ; the oitercula are large, often 
furcated ; tlie conclim of the ears are very ample, and blended one 
into the other on the top of the head ; the tongue and lips are 
smooth ; the interfemoral membrane entire ; and the tail wanting. 
Their incisors are four in the lower jaw ; these teeth are wanting in 
the upper, and the intermaxillary cartilage never becomes ossified. 
They all come from different parts of the Old Continent, such as 
Africa, and the Eastern Archipelago; and, like the Phyllostomes, 
may most readily be distinguished among themselves by the forms 
of their nasal appendages. 
The Megadormata constitute a link in the animat series which, in an 
interesting manner, connects the Phyllostomes we have left, with the 
Genus lliiinolophus, to which we next proceed. This link is in itself 
perfectly circumscribed, and on either side there is an interval or hiatus 
which is distinctly marked. The Broad-winged Bats are furnislied with 
an operculum, aud have no tail, so that they cannot be confounded witli 
the Rhinoloplii. In these points they agree with the Phyllostomes, but 
tlien they want the long tongue, and the extraordinary papillae and warts 
with which these last are furnished : neitlier their tongue, nor their lips, 
which are smooth, and witliout notches or tubercles, are peculiarly formed 
for the purpose of sucking. They are not endowed with tlie additional 
phalanx upon the middle finger, and yet none of the Bats are more copi- 
ously supplied with the dermal development, as It respects the wings and 
other parts. The ears are so large tliat they not only come into contact, 
but unite to a greater or less extent above the forehead. The nasal ap. 
pendage likewise so superabounds, that, in addition to the horse-shoe, 
and nose-leaf proper, there is an additional one which protrudes on either 
side horizontally from between the nostrils, and acts as a distinct valve to 
these apertures. M. Geoffroy speculates whether it be owing to the extra- 
oi'dinary development of this apparatus that there is a diminution, or ra- 
ther, we might say, extinction of the intermaxillary bones, and decidedly 
inclines to this belief. Be this, however, as it may, the fact remains the 
same, viz. that the intei maxillary bones are either quite wanting, or dege- 
nerate into mere menihranes, which are suspended in tlie soft parts ol the 
upper lip : their absence accounts for the want of the upper incisors. 
The species in this genus have no tail, but possess an interfemoral 
membrane, which is of very considerable dimensions ; and, to make up 
the deficiency arising from the want of the former appendage, we find 
there are two strong ligaments wliich have their origin in the sciatic re- 
gion, and rim obliquely to the heels ; they are inclosed in the coats of the 
membrane, and contribute to its support. 
The geograpliical distribulioti of these Megadermata, as well as of the 
Rhinoloplii, is the Old World, more especially the Indian Archipelago, 
though they are also found on the continents ol Asia and Africa ; whilst 
tlie Pliyllostomes, as we have seen, are confined to the New World. 
1. MEGADEIIMA SPAIMA — TREFOIL BROAD-WINGED BAT. 
Syn. Le Spasme de Ternate. — Cuv. Reg. Anira. I. 118. 
Megadehma Si'AS.MA, — Geoff. Ann. Mus. XV. 198. 
VOL. H. 
Cordated Bat. — Penn. Quadr. No. 499. 
Le Tiiefle de Java. — Cuv. Reg. Anim. I. 118. 
Megaderma trifolium. — Geoff. Ann. Mus. XV, 197. 
Icon. Geoff. Ann. Mus. XV. .pi. 12, (heads Spasme and Tiefle.) — Seba, pi. 
56, fig. 1, copied in Schreb. pi. 48, and again from the latter in Shaw, 
Zool. pi. 42. 
SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 
The Vertical Nasal Appendage ovate or cordate, resembling the 
horizontal ; size, one-fiftli of tiio auricle. 
The Opercula hi- or tri-lobed. 
Inhabits Ternate and Java. 
Tills very singular-looking Bat has long occupied a place in the annals 
of the science, without much being actually known of its liistory. It is 
the Glis vnlans Ternutanus of Seba, and tlie Vespertilio Spasma of Lin- 
nasiis and Cuvier, in Tab. Element, des Aniniaux. Long after the disco- 
very of Seba, M. Leschenuult de la Tour encountered in Java a Bat, 
which he sent, along with a description, to Paris, where it fell under the 
inspection of M. Geoftroy, wlio regarded it as a new and distinct species, 
a view whicli subsequently was adopted in the llegne Animal, and in most 
systematic works. Additional information, we apprehend, lias led M. 
Tcmminck and J. B. Fischer to regard these animals as one. 
The Spasma exhibits very strikingly tlie tliree-crested appearance of the 
nasal appendages of the genus. It has first a large horse-shoe, then 
what is called the horizontal leaf, and, finally, the perpendicular one; 
these latter are heart-shaped, with the base downwards; the lower is the 
larger, and more immediately covers the entrance of the nostrils. The 
name Trijhlium h;is been applied to tills animal from the peculiar shape 
of its very large operculum, having three not very symmetrical lobes, the 
central one of which is much the longest, and is acutely pointed. Tlie 
auricles correspond to the great size of the opercu'a : they are very 
broad, full, and high ; they meet over tlie forehead, and are tliere united 
to about one-third of their extent. The only other specific difter- 
ences which require to be dwelt upon regard the membranes. The 
spurs or spiciila of the tarsus are long, so affording firm support to the 
interfemoral membrane, and the alar ineiiibnines are very diaphanous, 
being freer from tendinous fibres than some of their congeners. Its fur 
is very long and soft, and its colour is mouse-grey. Seba descrilicd the 
animal he observed as having its forehead a light red, ami tlie other parts 
of its body of a russet liue. Tlie length of tlie head and liody is four 
indies, of the interfemoral membrane one and a lialf, tlie extreme breadtii 
ten and a half indies. 
Tlie last named observer found this animal in the island of Ternate, 
aud Lesclienault in Java. Ot its habits nothing has yet been recorded. 
2. MEGADEIIMA LYRA LYRE-NOSED BROAD-WINGED BAT. 
Syn. I a Lyre Cuv. Reg. Anim. I. 118. 
Jeon. BIegaderma Lyra — Geoff. Ann. BIus. XV. 198, pi. 12, fig. and 
cranium. 
specific characters. 
“ The Vertical Nasal Apfendage rectangular; the horizontal one-half 
less. 
Inhabits India. 
The size of the Lyre-nosed Bat very nearly agrees witli that of the preced- 
ing species. M. Geoffroy received a specimen of the animal from Holland, 
and lienee inferred it must have lieen procured from some ol tlie Dutch 
Colonies in tlie E.ist Indies: the name he conferred on it agrees perfectly 
witli the form of the nasal leaf. Mr Gray informs us there is a specimen 
in the British Musemii. 
The mid-rib of tlie nose-leaf appears more prominent than in the 
Piiyllostomes, thongh in reality it is not so thick ; the appearance being 
owing to a fold extending tlie wluile length of the lateral lobes, whicli 
are somewliat liollow, and curve forward. 1 lie leal at its upper ex- 
tremitv is square pointed, as may be proved by unfolding it, otherwise 
it seems to terminate in three points, tlie centre one being the most 
projecting. The lateral lobes are continuous witli tlie horse-slioe, 
or tlie semicircular ridge situate before the nostrils. Besides these, there 
is the fold wliich covers tlie base of the cone ; it is concentric witli tiie 
horse-shoe, and takes its rise from the root of the projection ; ad ering 
H 
