23 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE - GOSSIP. 



[Feb. 1, 186S. 



"Dog-bat" are nearly cylindrical, expanding up- 

 wards, and entire at their margins. In balsam, the 

 medulla is distinct and large. Mr. Blyth recognises 

 but one species of Cynopterus, which includes the 



Fig:. 1 1 ■ Hair of Pteropus 

 edulis x 300. 



Fig;. 12. Hair of Cynopterus 

 Horsfieldii x 300. 



three species enumerated by Dr. Horsfield, and two 

 of those enumerated by Dr. Gray. The appearance 

 of the hairs seem to indicate a distinctness between 

 the species called Cynopterus marginatus (fig. 13) and 

 that named Cynopterus Horsfie/dii(jig. 12). The hairs 



ajs 



<ca 



s? i 



Fig;. 13. Hair of Cynopterus 

 marginatus x 300. 



Fig;. 14. Hair of Cynopterus 

 marginatus in Balsam x 300. 



in the latter are larger, the medulla is not more than 

 half the diameter, and the colour is deeper, not to 

 mention some other minor distinctions. When ex- 

 amined dry the hairs resemble those of the " Dog- 

 bat " in the form and arrangement of scales, except 

 that they are closer together. Mounted in balsam, 

 they are most beautiful objects, being so transparent 

 that the outline of the scales is lost in the front 

 view, and seen only at the sides like barbs (fig. 14). 

 The broad medulla in Cynopterus marginatus occupies 

 more than three-fourths of the diameter of the hair. 

 The other genus included in this group is that of 

 the Indian Vampires {Megaderma) of which Mr. 



Blyth has given a graphic account in the Journal of 

 the Asiatic Society of Bengal. Two out of three 

 species have been examined, and these are so 

 similar that it is difficult to indicate features whereby 

 one may be distinguished from the .other (figs. 15, 

 1G). When examined dry, they bear considerable 



Fig. 15. Hair of Megaderma 

 lyra x 300. 



Fig. 16. Hair of Megaderma 

 spasma x 300. 



resemblance to those of Cynopterus, but the medulla 

 is distinctly visible. If mounted in balsam or spirit, 

 they become very transparent, but the apparent mar- 

 ginal barbs, which represent the side view of the 

 scales are shorter and less defined than in Cynop- 

 terus. The cells of the medulla are longer, and the 

 general appearance as a mieroscopic object not so 

 attractive. 



The third group includes the Horse-shoe Bats, in 

 which the hairs are very variable in size from the 





Fig. )/. Hair of 



Rliinolophus 

 perniger x 300. 



Fig. 18. Hair of 

 Rhinolophus 

 Kouxi x 300. 



''J 



Fig. 19. Hair of 



Rhinolophus 

 diadema x 300. 



same animal, some being one-half, or one-third the 

 diameter of others, with a very irregular or zigzag 

 outline, whilst the larger hairs are furnished with 

 cylindrical scales expanding upwards, irregular in 

 size, and often with an oblique margin. The two 



