. Cassell's natural history. Animals; Animal behavior. 328 NATURAL ;led stenoderm. Mr. Fraser's statement, suggests tliat the blocd-sucking was performed l>y tlie Desmodonts. whioli accompanied the Javelin Bat in Mr. Frasera collection, and the guilt transferred to the larger and more striking species; and the same explana- tion may apply to the accounts given by Mr. Wallace and Prince Maximilian, both of whom apparently charge the Javelin Bat with san- guinivorons proclivities solely upon cu'cum- stantial evidence. If this be the case, Phyllos ioina /lastatum must be regarded as
. Cassell's natural history. Animals; Animal behavior. 328 NATURAL ;led stenoderm. Mr. Fraser's statement, suggests tliat the blocd-sucking was performed l>y tlie Desmodonts. whioli accompanied the Javelin Bat in Mr. Frasera collection, and the guilt transferred to the larger and more striking species; and the same explana- tion may apply to the accounts given by Mr. Wallace and Prince Maximilian, both of whom apparently charge the Javelin Bat with san- guinivorons proclivities solely upon cu'cum- stantial evidence. If this be the case, Phyllos ioina /lastatum must be regarded as a very unfortunate animal. Professor Eeinhardt agrees with Mr. Tomes in considering the Desmodonts (Desmodus and Diphijlla) the only blood-sucking Bats, and they appear to be the only forms that have been actually taken in the fact. At the same time we are perhaps hardly justified in passing a verdict of not guilty in the case of some of the other species, for ceitain observers record the finding of'blood in the stomach, and by others the structure of the mouth is looked upon as furnishing circumstantial evidence of sanguinary propensities. Thus Professor Bell says that the tongue in the genus Phyllostomci has a number of wart-like elevations, so arranged as to form a complete circular suctorial disc when they are brought into contact at their sides, which is effected by a sec of muscular fibres having a tendon attached ^ each of the warts. Bj' means of this curious sucker, he adds, these Bats are enabled to suck the blood of animals and the juice of succulent fruits. According to other writers the papUlse which are boi-ne by the lips (see figure), and which seem to have some analogy with the wrinkles occurring on the lips of the MixstiflT Bats, serve this same office; and Prince Maximilian describes the mode in which the lips in the Javelin Bat may be converted into a sucking-canal. It is to be , however, that these papillie are greatly developed in specie
Size: 1752px × 1425px
Photo credit: © Book Worm / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjecta, booksubjectanimals
