DESMODUS D’ORBIGNYI.
PLATE I. Natural size. Skull, teeth, &c. Pl. XXXV., figs. 1.
_D. pilis nitidis adpressis; corpore suprà fusco, pilis ad basin
albis; gulâ abdomineque cinerescenti-albis; nasûs prosthemate
parvulo bifido._
DESCRIPTION.—The fur of this Bat is glossy and has a silk-like
appearance; that on the top of the head, sides of the face, and
the whole of the upper parts of the body, is of a deep brown
colour; all the hairs on these parts, however, are white at the
base. The flanks, interfemoral membrane, and the arms, are also
covered on their upper side with brown hairs. On the lower part of
the sides of the face, and the whole of the under parts of the
body, the hairs are of an ashy-white colour. The membrane of the
wing is brownish. The ears are of moderate size, and somewhat
pointed; externally they are covered with minute brown hairs, and
internally with white. The tragus is also covered with white
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 posteriorly, and is so
deeply cleft on its hinder margin, that it may be compared to two
small leaflets joined side by side near their bases. These
leaflets, unlike the nose-leaf of the Phyllostomina, lie
horizontally on the nose to which they are attached throughout, a
slight ridge only indicating their margin. Around the posterior
part of the nose-leaf there is a considerable naked space, in
which two small hollows are observable, situated one on each side,
and close to the nose-leaf; and, at a short distance behind the
nose-leaf, this naked membrane is slightly elevated, and forms a
transverse fleshy tubercle.
In. Lines.
Length of head and body 3 3
interfemoral membrane 0 3½
the antibrachium 2 2
thumb (claw included) 0 8
tibia 0 10
tarsus (claw included) 0 8⅓
ear 0 4
tragus 0 3
nose-leaf 0 2¼
Expanse the wings
of 12 8