Page:Mammals of Australia (Gould), introduction.djvu/39

, are confined to the brushes which stretch along the eastern coast. In these solitary forests they teem and hang about in thousands, frequently changing their locale when their food becomes scarce or has been entirely cleared off. The species I more particularly allude to is the Pteropus poliocephalus. The Cobourg Peninsula and other parts of the north coast are also inhabited by a species which, according to Gilbert and Leichardt, is very abundant. A third and very fine one frequents Fitzroy Island, lying off the eastern coast.

The extraordinary Molossus australis is a native of Victoria, and is the sole species of its genus yet discovered in Australia. The Taphozoi appear to be rock-loving Bats, and the single species as yet discovered is from the Peninsula of Cape York. The Scotophili, of which there are several species, are found in all parts of the country, from Van Diemen's Land to the most northern part of the continent.

The restricted genus Vespertilio is more feebly represented than the last-mentioned form, since only two species are known to exist in the country; these are very generally spread over the southern coast.

Of the leaf-nosed Rhinolophi I have figured three species— the R. cervinus, which inhabits Cape York, the R. aurantius (a very beautiful species) from North-western Australia, and the R. megaphyllus from New South Wales.

The Nyctophili, or Long-eared Bats, are well represented, four species, at least, frequenting every part of the continent from east to west, and also the island of Tasmania.

This, I am aware, is a very imperfect résumé of the Cheiroptera inhabiting Australia; could I have rendered it more complete, I would have done so; but it must be recollected that seventh-tenths of the country are yet unexplored.

A mere glance at the globe which stands in every school-room will show how greatly the sea preponderates over the land of this planet. Like the land, the ocean is tenanted by many remarkable animals, certain groups of which exist in one