HEAD OF SORICINE BAT.
Agreeing with the Phyllostomes and Vampires in the form of the molar teeth, the general form of the muzzle, the presence of a nose-leaf and tragus, and some other characters, the Glossophagæ exhibit some striking peculiarities which serve to distinguish them from these and all other Bats. Foremost among these is the structure of the tongue, which is very singular. It is a long, somewhat compressed fleshy cylinder beset with reversed hairs, and capable of being pushed out of the mouth to a considerable distance. In the fresh state, according to Rengger, it has a furrow running along the upper surface, and this, he thought, rendered it specially applicable to the purpose of sucking blood, which was formerly supposed to be a habit of all these Bats. The lower lip is cleft, and the margins of the fissure furnished with warts, a construction which also contributed to raise a suspicion of the sanguinary habits of the animals. The horseshoe-shaped part of the nose-leaf is very imperfectly developed, and the organ consists chiefly of the lance-shaped leaf; there are four incisor teeth in a close row in each jaw, the two middle ones in the upper jaw larger and broader than the others; the upper jaw has two and the lower three premolars on each side, and there are three true molars on each side in both jaws.
The Soricine Bat has received a great number of names; at least, numerous supposed species founded upon slight differences of colour, &c., are regarded by Professor Peters as all referable to the species described by Pallas, in 1766, under the name of Vespertilio soricinus. It is a small Bat about two inches and a quarter long including the tail, which measures about one-sixth of an inch, and is enclosed within the interfemoral membrane. The ears are of moderate size and separate, with small, pointed tragi; and the body is clothed with a rather long, soft, and thick fur, usually of a rusty greyish-brown colour, paler on the lower surface. This Bat inhabits the whole of the warmer part of South America, extending from the Brazilian coast to the Andes, and northwards into Venezuela and Guatemala. It is said to feed chiefly on insects, but probably, like the following species, diversifies its food by eating succulent fruits, this being apparently the purpose for which these animals are endowed with their peculiar tongue.
REDMAN’S BAT.[241]
The genus Monophyllus is nearly allied to Glossophaga, but has the incisor teeth in pairs, and the lower ones exceedingly small. The interfemoral membrane forms a narrow border running up the legs, and crossing from side to side; and the tail, although short, projects beyond the membrane. The teeth are—incisors, 2–22–2, canines, 1–11–1, premolars, 2–23–3, molars, 3–33–3. The only known species is Redman’s Bat (Monophyllus Redmanii), in which the head and body measure about two inches and one-sixth in length. The expanse of wing is about twelve inches; the fur, which is thick, soft, and glossy, is greyish-brown above with the tips of the hairs slightly hoary, and dusky grey tipped with greyish-white on the lower surface. The membranes are dark brown. This species occurs in Jamaica and Cuba.
REDMAN’S BAT. (From the Proceedings of the Zoological Society.)
It was found by Mr. Osburn at Cairo, in Jamaica. He describes it as exceedingly fierce, drawing blood readily from the back of the hand of its captor. Its activity was beyond anything he had seen in Chiroptera. It ran round the box in which it was placed by a series of little jumps, with almost the quickness of a Mouse, and jumped with the agility of a bird. “On placing it under a glass,” he says, “after its first efforts had a little subsided, I saw its tongue projected very rapidly to the board. It seemed to me to be using an additional sense to ascertain the nature of the unusual substance on which it was resting. It frequently stretched its neck and head upwards, the nose-leaf and round ears in motion, as if trying to ascertain whether there was an aperture above, its bright little eyes piercing with eagerness, and panting like a Mouse.” Mr. Osburn’s observations on the specimens which he had in captivity seem to lead to the conclusion that this Bat feeds on soft fruits, and that its long and peculiar tongue is employed in sucking up their pulp.
Ischnoglossa nivalis has the incisors in pairs and no tail. The described specimen was obtained near the snow line on the Pic d’Orizaba, in Mexico.