Chapter IV (2)

This species, which has been referred by various authors to different genera, is especially remarkable for its peculiar coloration. The muzzle is of a conical form; the ears ovate, with the rounded tips projecting outwards, so as to render the outer margin concave for some distance; the tragus long, narrow, and obtusely pointed; the fur is soft and thick, of a reddish-yellow colour above, and pale yellowish beneath; and the wing-membranes, which are very broad, are singularly variegated with bright orange and brownish-black. The dark portions form irregularly triangular patches on the membranes between the second and third and third and fourth fingers, and between the fourth finger and a line drawn from the wrist to the ankle. All the rest of the membrane, including the ears and interfemoral membrane, are orange, this colour forming narrow bands along the course of the fingers, and also extending more or less in the form of specks and streaks over the dark patches. The length of the head and body in this Bat is from two inches and a third to two inches and a half, and the expanse of the wings twelve inches and a half. It is found in the Himalayan region in Nepaul and at Darjeling, in the Khasia Hills, and in China at Shanghai, Kiang, and Amoy.

This beautiful Bat presents a remarkable resemblance in coloration to another Eastern species (the Painted Bat), to which we shall presently refer; and, indeed, by some zoologists it has been placed in the same genus (_Kerivoula_) with the latter. Mr. Swinhoe, in his memoir on the Mammals of Formosa (_Proc. Zoo. Soc._, 1862, p. 357), refers to a species which he regards as allied to the Black and Orange Bat and the Painted Bat, but which was most probably the former, in the following terms:--“The body of this Bat was of an orange-brown, but the wings were painted with orange-yellow and black. It was caught, suspended head downwards, on a cluster of the round fruit of the Longan tree (_Nephelium longanum_). Now this tree is an evergreen, and all the year through some portion of its foliage is undergoing decay, the particular leaves being, in such a stage, partially orange and black. This Bat can therefore at all seasons suspend from its branches, and elude its enemies by its resemblance to the leaf of the tree. It was in August when this specimen was brought to me. It had at that season found the fruit ripe and reddish-yellow, and had tried to escape observation in the semblance of its own tints to those of the fruit.” This example of “protective mimicry,” if such is really its nature, is reproduced, as already stated, in the Painted Bat, and also, as remarked by Mr. Dobson, in Welwitsch’s Bat from Western Africa.

THE PAINTED BAT.[204]

A small group of Bats, nearly related to the preceding, is distinguished as forming a distinct genus under the name of _Kerivoula_, originally proposed and founded on a native Cingalese name by the late Dr. Gray. These Bats have the apertures of the nostrils perfectly circular; the first and second pre-molars in the upper jaw nearly as large as the third pre-molar, the ears large and funnel-shaped, the outer portion sweeping forward very much, and the spur of the heel long and stout, and curved backwards.

The Painted Bat (_Kerivoula picta_) has been already referred to as one of the species remarkable for their coloration. It is a small species, having the head and body only an inch and a half to an inch and three-quarters long. Its fur is of a deep orange colour above and paler beneath. The ears and interfemoral membrane, and the portions of membrane in front of the bones of the arm, are likewise deep orange, as are also the basal portions of the wing-membranes, broad bands bordering all the bones of the arms and fingers, and the hinder margin of the portions of membrane between the feet and the extremities of the fourth fingers, and the remainder of the wing-membranes being occupied by large triangular patches of deep black, more or less variegated with orange spots and streaks.

This remarkable Bat is found in many parts of the Peninsula of India, and also in Ceylon, Burmah, Sumatra, and Java; in fact, Mr. Dobson thinks that it is probably distributed in all parts of tropical Asia. It haunts the forests, and is very active in pursuit of insects. When disturbed in the day-time, according to Dr. Jerdon, it looks more like a Butterfly or a Moth than a Bat, and we may easily believe that the character and arrangement of its colours will give it an exceedingly un-batlike aspect. For its place of repose it selects the folded leaf of the plantain, and, according to Dr. Kelaart, its native Cingalese name of “Kehelvoulha” (from which the generic name is derived) signifies “Plantain Bat.” The other species of this genus present nothing remarkable.

THE HARPY BAT.[205]

The _Harpiocephali_ are a curious group of Bats almost entirely confined to the Himalayan region, only two species being found elsewhere, namely, in the islands of Java and Sumatra, and one of these is also a Himalayan species. The most striking character of the genus is one which it displays in common with the Harpy Fruit Bat (_Harpyia Pallasii_) already described, namely, the remarkable prominence of the nostrils, which project in a tubular form on each side of the muzzle. These Bats are further distinguished by the hairiness of the upper surface of the interfemoral membrane, which is sometimes entirely, and never less than half covered with hair, the wing-membrane being also generally hairy for a greater extent than in other allied species.

The Harpy Bat (_Harpiocephalus harpia_) is about two inches and a half long, with a tail nearly two inches in length. Its fur is very soft and silky, that of the upper surface brownish or whitish-grey, with the tips of the hairs red, producing a bay or reddish-brown tint on the back, whilst the head, neck, and shoulders show more of a greyish cast; and that of the lower surface entirely grey. The membranes are of a reddish-brown colour, clothed above with hairs of the same tint on the basal part of the wings, and over the whole surface of the interfemoral membrane. The ears are broad, and rounded at the tip. This fine Bat has been observed in India, at Darjeling, and the Khasia Hills; it is also an inhabitant of Java and Sumatra.

The skull and jaws in the Harpy Bat exhibit indications of considerable strength; in fact, the general aspect of the skull is very Dog-like, and the large size of the coronoid process of the lower jaw would seem to indicate that the whole is intended to form a powerful masticating apparatus. This notion is further borne out by the character of the teeth, which are very stout, the molars being furnished with short, blunt cusps, thickly coated with enamel, and admirably fitted to crush the hard cases of the Beetles, which appear, from the contents found in its stomach, to constitute the principal food of this Bat. Mr. Dobson remarks that “as we become better acquainted with the habits of these animals, it will probably be found that the food of this species is restricted to certain species of Coleoptera possessing extremely hard cases, which would effectually resist the feebler, although more acutely-pointed teeth of other Bats inhabiting the same localities. The form of the teeth, the great development of the coronoid process, and the shortness of the mandible, are all evidently subservient to the same object, and have been modified simultaneously to suit the food of the animal.”

THE RED BAT.[206]

The genus _Atalapha_, to which the Red Bat of North America belongs, is very nearly related to _Nycticejus_, and in fact its species have been not unfrequently placed in that genus. In general characters the two groups closely agree, but the head in _Atalapha_ is more elevated, and the interfemoral membrane is wholly, or to a very considerable extent, clothed with hair. This latter character, with the presence of only two incisors in the upper jaw, serves at once to distinguish the species of this genus, which are confined, like those of _Nycticejus_, to the Western hemisphere.

The Red Bat is generally distributed over all the temperate parts of North America, even extending, according to Peters, as far north as the Aleutian islands, whilst Geoffroy and Temminck state that it occurs in Cayenne and Surinam. The head and body are usually rather less than two inches long, and the tail is of about the same length; the expanse of wing is from eleven to twelve inches. There are two pre-molar and three molar teeth on each side. The ears are irregularly rounded, and the outer margin runs round upon the cheek, and forms a distinct lobe below the origin of the tragus, which is about half the height of the ear, and turns inwards at the point. The fur is long and silky, and is generally of a light russet colour, tinged with yellow, darker and richer on the back. The colour, however, varies, specimens being met with showing fawn-coloured and even yellowish-ashy tints. At each shoulder there is a tuft of white hair. The interfemoral membrane is entirely covered above, and half covered beneath, with hair of the same colour as that on the body. The membranes are of a rich brown colour, and the ears and lips are marked with yellow. The above furnishes indications only of the general effect produced, but each hair is dark lead-colour at the base, then yellowish-brown, passing into dark or bright red or chocolate colour, with the extreme tip generally white. Northern specimens usually show the darker tints, while those from warmer regions are more frequently of a bright red colour.

Dr. Allen quotes the following anecdote, illustrating the force of the maternal instinct in this little Bat:--A lad had caught a young Red Bat, which he took home with him. “Three hours afterwards, in the evening, as he was conveying it to the museum in his hand, while passing near the place where it was caught, the mother made her appearance, and followed the boy for two squares, flying around him, and finally alighted on his breast, such was her anxiety to save her offspring. Both were brought to the museum, the young one firmly adhering to its mother’s teat. This faithful creature lived two days in the museum, and then died of injuries received from her captor. The young one being but half grown, was still too young to take care of itself, and died shortly after.”

The Hoary Bat (_Atalapha cinerea_) is larger than its congener, the Red Bat, measuring from two to three inches in length, and from twelve to fifteen inches in expanse of wing. Its colours, also, are quite different. The head and neck are of a faded yellow colour, the back brownish chocolate or umber smoky fawn-colour, and the lower surface fawn-colour, darker on the breast. All the hairs are tipped with white, which gives the animal the peculiar ashy tinge alluded to in its name. The whole upper surface of the interfemoral membrane, and about one-third of its lower surface, are clothed with hair. The Hoary Bat is distributed over the whole of North America, as far north as Canada and the Hudson’s Bay Territories.[207]

SCHREIBERS’ BAT.[208]

Several species of Long-tailed Bats, peculiar to the Eastern hemisphere, have been formed into the genus _Miniopterus_, which differs from all the preceding forms by having the crown of the head abruptly and very considerably raised from the face, and the upper incisors in pairs separated not only from each other, but from the canines. They have the ears separate, with their outer margins extending forward nearly to the opening of the mouth; the nostrils simple; the first phalanx of the second finger very short; and the tail as long as the head and body, and entirely enclosed within the interfemoral membrane.

Schreibers’ Bat, the type of this genus, is very remarkable for its extraordinary geographical range; for, according to the determinations of Messrs. Tomes and Dobson, it extends from Japan through the Eastern Archipelago to Australia, and westward of these localities through Burmah and Ceylon to Asia Minor, and thence into Southern Europe. It is also generally distributed in Africa, and occurs in Madagascar. On the continent of Europe it is found as far north as Switzerland and Lower Austria.

The species varies considerably in the colour of its fur. The basal half of the hairs is always dark, either brown, greyish-black, or black, with the extremities sometimes of nearly the same tint, but generally lighter, varying from a light grey, even becoming whitish on the lower surface, to reddish-grey and reddish-brown. Specimens from tropical localities are generally dark in colour. The ears are much shorter than the head, and sweep almost completely round the eye (whence the name of “_blepotis_” was given to the Eastern form by M. Temminck), terminating near the angle of the mouth in a small square-ended lobe. The tragus is much shorter than the ear, about twice as long as broad, and rounded at the tip. The total length of this Bat is about four inches, half of which goes to the head and body, and the remainder to the tail. Schreibers’ Bat is an inhabitant of caves. It was originally obtained from the caverns of the Banat, but occurs generally throughout Southern Europe. In the East it is also said by M. Temminck to find a retreat in caves and clefts in the rocks. It is very common in Java, but rarely appears in the open country.[209]

THE BROWN PIG BAT.[210]

This is another of the forms occupying the border-land between the families of _Vespertilionidæ_ and _Emballonuridæ_, and assisting to unite the whole of the simple-nosed Insectivorous Bats in one great series. In the form of the head, and in the dentition, it resembles especially _Natalus_ and _Furia_. The wing-membranes are continued down the toes to the base of the claws; the tail is long, and enclosed, except the last joint, in the interfemoral membrane, which is supported by long heel-spurs, beyond which there are membranous lobes; and the thumbs are free and clawed, and, like the soles of the feet, furnished with curious adhesive discs. The toes consist of only two phalanges each, as in the genus _Phyllorhina_. The genus was described by MM. Lichtenstein and Peters under the name of _Hyonycteris_ (Pig Bat), in allusion to the elongated and truncated form of the muzzle, which has somewhat of a Pig-like aspect.

(From the _Proceedings of the Zoological Society._)]

The singular adhesive organs mentioned above as occurring on the thumbs and feet of this Bat, are described in considerable detail by Mr. Dobson in the “Proceedings of the Zoological Society.” He remarks that they constitute the only known instance of the possession by Mammals of prehensile organs at all resembling the sucking-discs of the Cephalopodous mollusca. “On the inferior surface of the thumb,” he says, “from the base of the first phalanx, ... corresponding to the position of the ball of the thumb in other Bats, arises, by a short peduncle, a hollow suctorial disc about one-tenth of an inch in diameter. On the sole of the foot a similar but considerably smaller disc is placed, not in the same relative position, however, as in the thumb; for it covers the metatarsal bones, not the bases of the first phalanges of the toes.” According to a Spanish writer, Señor Jimenez de la Espada, these discs were used by the animal to fasten itself to the fingers as it tried to bite, producing the same feeling as a key or thimble when applied to the tongue after sucking out the air; and it is added, “the muscular arrangement is such as to allow the animal to vary the diameter of the organ; and by their means the animals attached themselves to the sides of the box in which they are kept, although, when sleeping, they suspended themselves by the claws like other Bats.” Mr. Dobson, however, by careful examination of the structure of the discs, convinced himself that the Spanish zoologist was mistaken in ascribing any muscular arrangements to these curious organs, which consist exclusively of an unusual development of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, amongst which a radiating cartilaginous structure probably gave rise to the notion of a special muscular apparatus. Mr. Dobson indicates further that the discs of the feet are supplemented by several small projections from the hinder border of the heel-spur, which are known to occur in no other species of Bat, and he regards the whole of these peculiarities as indicating that the animal is specially adapted for climbing, like the New Zealand Bat (_Mystacina tuberculata_), and that in all probability both these species are in the habit of capturing the insects on which they feed while crawling over the branches of trees.[211]

The Brown Pig Bat (_Thyroptera tricolor_) is an inhabitant of South and Central America. Its head and body are rather more than an inch and a half long, and the tail about an inch and a quarter. The fur is of a cinnamon-brown colour, paler beneath, and the wings dusky brown.[212]

THE STRAW-COLOURED BAT.[213]

In this curious little Bat, as in _Furipterus_ and _Miniopterus_, which with it form the links of connection between the two families of simple-nosed Insectivorous Bats, the crown of the head is also much elevated and separated from the muzzle by a strong depression. The nostrils are placed quite at the tip of the nose, and close to the upper lip (see figure, p. 312), the chin has a semicircular double row of warts, the ears are large, broad, somewhat pointed at the tip, which is turned outwards, so as to make the outer margin appear excavated, whilst below it sweeps round upon the side of the face as a free lobe, and the tragus, which is short, broad, and fleshy, rises from the end of a short stalk projecting horizontally from the inside of the opening of the ear. The wings are of moderate length, and rather broad, and are attached to the ankle in a most singular manner. Their point of attachment is not, as usual in Bats, on the outside, but on the inside of the ankle, so that a narrow strip of membrane has to cross over the terminal portion of the shank. The thumbs are free; the legs and tail are long and slender; the latter, which consists of only seven joints, is longer than the head and body of the animal, and is almost entirely enclosed in the ample interfemoral membrane, the posterior margins of which are supported by long spurs springing from the heels. All the membranous parts, including the ears, are thickly marked with dotted lines. There are four incisor teeth in the upper jaw, placed in pairs, and separated by a space from the canines. There are three pre-molars in both jaws. (Dental formula--incisors, (2–2)/6, canines, (1–1)/(1–1), pre-molars, (3–3)/(3–3), molars, (3–3)/(3–3).)

The Straw-coloured Bat measures about four inches in total length, fully one-half of which is occupied by the tail. It is clothed with a moderately-long fur, of a brownish-yellow colour, paler on the lower surface. The membranes are reddish-brown. It is an inhabitant of South and Central America.