ON BATS. 



109 



cies differ ia 

 site. 



t:. femm-cquimini) and seven of the minvtus, many of 

 which were conveyed home alive: of the former there were 

 four males and five females ; of the latter five males and 

 two females. Of the v. ferrum-equinum the largest and The two spa- 

 smallest were both females, one preponderating four drams 

 and a half, the other not exceeding four drams. The 

 length of these to the setting on of the tail two inches and 

 a half; to the end of the tail three inches and three quar- 

 ters : the expansion of the wings about fourteen inches and 

 a half. 



Iu colour these two species are perfectly similar, except scarcely i* 

 in some instances the sides and breast of the v.Jerrum- co our * 

 equinum are more of a ferruginous-brown. 



With respect to the face, which is so extremely curious, 

 there appears on a cursory view scarcely a perceptible dif- 

 ference, except that the upper lip of the v. ferrum-equinum 

 is much more tumid ; but the most material distinction is in but chiefly ;« 

 the formation of the nasal membranes, especially that which Membrane* 

 is posterior and transverse. To explain this no words can 

 convey what a simple outline will, and therefore the curi- 

 ous are referred to PI. IV, Jig. 5, which represents the side 

 view of the membranes of v. ferrum-equinum, Of which a 

 is the posterior tianverse one ; the front is seen at Jig. 6. 

 The same views are given of the nasal membrane of v. mi~ 

 nutus *tjig» 7 and 8, where b b represent the membrane* 

 in different points of view. In these a very striking differ- 

 ence is observable, and it will also be perceived, that the 

 anterior longitudinal membrane is by no means similar in 

 both species. 



With respect to the teeth, it will be observed, that the Teeth. 

 v» ferrum-equinum possesses two minute distant fore teeth 

 in the upper jaw, which are not to be found in the t% mi* 

 nutus ; a circumstance that seems to have escaped most na- 

 turalists, this genus being usually placed in the division 

 destitute of upper fore teeth : the canine teeth are also much 

 stronger in proportion in v. ferrum-equinum than in the 

 other species. 



Linnceus, when he placed the bats in the first order of Linnaeus 

 mammalia, doubtless considered the whole genus to agree in m^he fim^" 

 possessing two pectoral teats, and no others; and this opi- order of mam- 

 malia, 

 mon 



