DESMODUS. 
39 
reddish-wliite : behind ears somewhat rufous; beneath tawny- white, 
membranes blackish-brown. Incisors of upper jaw in pairs, which are se- 
parated from each other by a distinct open space immediately in the front 
of tile jaw. Length from nose to root of tail two inches; ears rather 
longer and broader than in the last species, tragus short, and its apex se- 
micircular ; termination of tail deeply forked, with the last vertebra but 
one the longest. The arrangement of the incisors of the upper jaw, the 
marked difference in respect to the last joint but one of the tail, added to 
the depth of the fork, and the greater proportion of transverse veins, in 
the portion of the interfemoral membrane connected with the joint 
named, tend, with other characters, to establish this as a distinct species 
from the last. 
GENUS XVII. DESMODUS.— CURVED-TOOTH BATS. 
Syn. Desmodos. — Pr. Max. Beitr. ct Abbild. 
Euosioma D’Orb. Voy. 
GENERIC CHARACTERS. 
The Dental Formula 
The Head small. The Muzzle obtuse. 
The Ears with opercula. The Nose with complicated membranes. 
The Thumbs very long and strong. 
The l.NTERFEMoRAL Membra.ne natrow, lining the interior of the 
thighs. The Tail wanting. 
Inhabit South America. 
This genus, introduced by Prince Maximilian de Neuwied, seems una- 
nimously to have been adopted by all the Zoologists who have subse- 
quently laboured in this department of Natural History, among whom we 
may mention MM. Fischer and De Blainville, and Messrs Gray and 
Waterhouse. It seems well characterized by its dental formula, although 
this requires perhaps some further confirmation. Both the two upper 
and the four lower incisors appear to be peculiar ; especially the former, 
which are very large, singularly conical, curved, compressed, with a very 
broad base, and acuminated ; the latter, again, are somewhat flattened 
down, and have their edges deeply bifid, the lobes being cylindrical, and 
the apices roundish. The canines are large and sharp. Prince Maxi- 
milian does not seem to have ascertained the number of the molars in the 
upper jaw, tliough they are clearly given in D’Orbigny’s plate : the num- 
ber of the lower correspond accurately in the Prince's and the French 
traveller's drawings : the two upper are close to the great canine and to 
each other, the posterior being most indented ; of the three lower tlie 
front one is somewhat removed from the canine, leaving room for the 
descent of the upper one, the second as well as the first have but one 
cusp, and are closely approximated ; the third is hi-cuspid. The liead, 
inoieover, is very short, and not less the jaws, the lower being a trifle tlie 
longer; the nose-leaf is usually supplied with minute bristles; the ante- 
rior extremity is peculiarly robust ; the alar membranes copious, the in- 
terfenioral very spare, b -iiig merely marginal to the thigh bones ; there 
being no tarsal spur, and no tail. 
1. DESMODUS RUFUS. i— BED CURVED- TOOTH BAT. 
Syn. Der Rothbraune Bundelzahn — Pr. Blax. Beitr. II. 233. 
Icon. Pr. Max. Abbild.— (Desmodus rufus.) 
SPECIFIC characters. 
The Hair red, tinged with yellow. 
The Ears short and broad ; round at the points. 
Inhabits Brazil. 
“ This interesting Bat,” says the Prince of Neuwied, “ was found at 
Fazenda of Muribcca, upon the river Itabapuna, between tlie 21° and 
22“ S. hit. ; where, however, it appears exceedingly rare, as I was able 
to procure only a single individual.” Its arm and alar membrane, and 
the fingers also, are remarkably strong ; and the humerus, the lower ex- 
tremities down to the foot, the great toe, and the membranes where they 
rise from the body, are covered with long and soft liair, as are also the 
face and nose-leaf, where, however, it is much finer, and not so abun- 
dant. Whilst the wings are very long, the interfemoral membrane is ex- 
ceedingly curtailed, rising from nearly the top of the tibia. Tlie cranium 
is very short, so that the lower jaw, tliough it projects somewhat beyond 
the upper, can scarcely accommodate the four molar teeth with which it 
is furnished. The ears are of medium size, and rather oblong than round ; 
the operculum is narrow, pointed, and somewliat falciform ; tlie nostrils 
obliquely approximate towards each other, and the nose-leaf, which is by 
no means complicated or copious, is of a circular shape. Tliis Bat is 
destitute hotli of the tail and the tarsal spur. The base of each hair is 
a faint yellow, towards the lip it acquires a reddisli or cinnamon tint, so 
tliat, throughout the whole, body, the colour generally is ferruginous ; 
paler below than above; all the membranes are brownish-black. The 
total length of this species is nearly four inches ; its extreme breadth about 
fifteen. It is believed to frequent old buildings ; but of its habits little 
or nothing is known. 
2. DESMODUS CINEREUS.— GREY CURVED-TOOTH BAT. 
Syn, et Icon. Edosioma cinerea. — D’Orb. Voy. 
specific characters. 
The Hair grey, tinged with brown. 
The Ears long and pointed. 
Inhabits 
This Grey Edostome of M. D'Orbigny seems very properly placed in 
Prince Maximilian’s Genus Desmodus by M. de Blainville but, as the 
illustrious traveller's description lias not yet been published, we can de- 
rive our information regarding this species only from the beautiful repre- 
sentation wliich has appeared. It lias a strong general resemblance to 
the former species in the strength of the anterior extremity, tlie extent of 
the alar membranes, wliich are also clad at their attachment to the body, 
and tlie curtailed interfemoral membrane, being a mere fringe which rises 
from about tlie lower third of tlie tibia ; it is also destitute of spur and 
tail. The ear of this species is rather long and pointed ; the operculum 
is also pointed ; the nose-leaf, whilst having a general resemblance to that 
of the last species, is not so circular, the horse-shoe extending along the 
whole of the upper lip, and being scarcely as high as it is broad ; it is ir- 
regularly triangular, and double the size of the one perforated by the nostrils, 
anterior, and including within the limits of the other ; the lower lip seems 
to be deeply cleft. The fur, which is abundant, is soft and wavey. The 
colour generally is grey, being dark on the liead, and light on the face, 
chest, and abdomen. The claws are yellowish, the membranes dark- 
ish grey. 
3. DESMODUS D’ORBIGNYII CHILIAN CURVED-TOOTH BAT. 
Syn. ct Icon. Desjiodus D’Orbignvi. — ^W aterh. in Zool. Beagl. p. I. pi. 1. 
SPECIFIC CUARACTBR.S. 
The Hair deep brown above, ashy white beneath. 
The Ears short, and broad ; round at the points. 
Inhabits Coquimbo, Chile. 
Since the publication of M. D'Orbigny’s elegant plate, a third species 
has been introduced into this genus, procured by Mr Darwin, and de- 
scribed by Mr Waterhouse in the “ Zoology of the licagle.” 
“ The fur of this Bat,” says Mr Waterhouse, “ is glossy, and has a silk- 
hke appearance ; that on the top of the head, sides of tiie face, and the 
whole of tlie upper parts of the body, is of a deep brown colour ; all the hairs 
on tliese parts, however, are white at the base. The flanks, iuteifeinoral 
membrane, and arms, are also covered on their upper side with brown 
hairs. On the lower part of the sides, and the whole of the under parts 
of the body, the hairs are of an asliy-wliite colour. Tlie membrane of 
the wing is brownish. The ears are of moderate size, and somewhat 
pointed ; externally they are covered with minute brown hairs, internally 
with white; the tragus is also covered with while hairs; it is of a narrow 
form, pointed at the tip, and has a small acute process in the middle of the 
outer margin. The nose-leaf is pierced by the nostrils, which diverge pos- 
teriorly, and is so deeply cleft on its hinder margin, that it nmy be com- 
pared to two small leaflets joined side by side near their bases. These 
leaflets lie horizontally on the nose, to which they are attached throughout, 
a sliglit ridge only indicating their margin. Behind the leaf there is a consi- 
derable naked space, in wliich two small hollows are observable, situate 
one on each side, and close to tlie nose-leaf; and, at a short distance be- 
liind tlie nose-leaf, tliis naked membrane is sligiitly elevated, and forms a 
transverse fleshy tubercle. The extreme length is 3" 3'"; tlie extreme 
breadth 12" 8'"; of the aiuibracliiiim 2 " 2"'; of the nose-leaf 2^"'.” 
This Bat is a blood-sucker, and hence has been designated a Vampire 
by Mr Darwin. It is on this species he has the following note: “ The 
Vampire Bat is often the cause of niucli trouble by biting the horses in 
their withers. Tlie injury is generally not so much owing to the loss of 
blood as to the inflaninialion which tlie pressure of the saddle produces. 
The whole circuiiistancu has lately been doubted in England; 1 was there- 
fore fortunate in being present when one was actually caught on the 
horse’s back. We were bivouacking bate one evening near Coquimbo, 
in Chile, when my servant, noticing tliat one ol the hoi’ses was very res- 
tive, went to see what was the matter, and fancying he could distinguish 
something, suddenly put his hand on the beast's withers, and secured 
J Mr Gray (Mag. Zool. and Bot. H. p. 89) considers Stenoderma rufum, GcofF. to be identical vrith Desmodus Rufus, Pr. Max. 
See Antiales des Sciences Naturelles, 2dL Seric, T. ix. 361. 
