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Show Tomb-Dwelling Bats Added To Smithsonian Collection " Tomb-dwelling bats found inside the pyramids in the sepulchral chambers of kings and queens of ancient an-cient Egypt have just been added to the mammal collections of the Smithsonian Institution. Noteworthy among the bats is a species of Rhinopoma, or rat-tailed bat. Few bats have visible tails extending ex-tending beyond the membrane between be-tween the rear legs. The particular species of Rhinopoma appears to be exclusively an inhabitant of Egyptian tombs. Very similar creatures, crea-tures, but specifically different, are found as far south in Africa as Lake Rudolph and east to Siam. These, however, are cave dwellers. These tomb-inhabiting animals were obtained from the Great Pyramids Pyra-mids of Gizeh, near Cairo and near the site of ancient Memphis. They are about the size of the ordinary American brown bat. Throughout the day the remain in the darkness of the pyramids, clinging to niches in the roof and walls. After dark they fly abroad seeking insects. |