A curious little South American Bat, described by F. Cuvier under the name of Furia horrens, is of interest to the zoologist as one of the links between the two great groups of Microchiroptera. It is remarkable for the form of its muzzle, which is somewhat Pig-like, cut off and turned up at the extremity, and bristling all over with hairs. The tragus is in the form of a barbed arrow-head; and the thumb is exceedingly short, and entirely enclosed within the membrane, only the claw being left free. The canine teeth in the upper jaw are very peculiar, showing four points. This Bat is only about an inch and a half long. Its eyes are large and prominent, its nostrils surrounded by slightly-raised borders, and its chin bears eight white warts, seven running round the lip, while the eighth stands in the centre. The fur is soft, thick, and black. A second species of the genus, also from South America, is described by Mr. Tomes under the name of Furipterus cœrulescens. Its fur is of a slaty blue tint.
THE STRIPED SACK-WINGED BAT.[215]
DENTITION OF STRIPED
SACK-WINGED BAT, ENLARGED.
(After Peters.)
ARM OF STRIPED SACK-WINGED BAT,
FROM ABOVE.
The genus Saccopteryx is readily distinguished from all others by the existence in the membrane in front of the arm (the shoulder membrane or antebrachial membrane) of a singular sac or pouch, which is situated on the lower surface of the membrane near the elbow, and opens at the upper surface in a corresponding position.[216] This sac is not peculiar to the males, but occurs in both sexes. There are in the upper jaw only two incisor teeth, which are small and separated by an interval from each other and from the canines (see [figure above]). The lower jaw has six incisors in a close row. The canines are strong and sharp, especially the upper ones; the first pre-molar is small, the second larger and acute, and the three true molars are large and strongly tubercular. The ears are of moderate size, and furnished with well-developed tragi. The interfemoral membrane occupies the whole space between the legs, and is stretched by a pair of long spurs, between which the hinder margin is either straight or incurved, and the basal portion of the short tail is enclosed in the membrane, from the upper surface of which its tip projects. The species of this genus are all American.
WING OF STRIPED SACK-WINGED BAT,
FROM BELOW.
The Striped Sack-winged Bat is rather a small species, measuring about two inches and a quarter from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail. Its fur is tolerably long, full, and lustrous, that of the upper surface dark brown, with two white streaks running down from the shoulders to the hinder extremity of the body; the lower surface is paler, the hairs having ashy tips. It is an inhabitant of Surinam.[217]