30 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



[Feb. 1, 1S68. 



of these are similar to those of the Rhinopomes. 

 The long-armed Taphozous {Taphozous longimanus) is 

 common about Calcutta (fig. 26), but the black- 

 bearded Taphozous {Taphozous melanopogoii) appears 

 to be less common in peninsular India (fig. 25). The 

 hairs of the latter have the scales less deeply and 

 positively serrated at the margin than in the Rhino- 

 pomes, and both appear to be further removed in 

 structure from the undetermined hairs. In this 

 group must be placed also the hairs of Nyctinomus 

 plicatus, or groove-cheeked Bat, although the margins 

 of the scales are waved and irregular rather than 

 serrated (fig. 27). Two species of this genus are 

 enumerated, but the other {Nyctinomus insignis) 

 appears to be really Chinese. 



The fifth group includes the genus Nycticejus, all 

 the species of which seem to possess hair of a very 

 similar character. It is in fact difficult to indicate 

 any specific features, whilst generally, or in as far 

 as the whole group is concerned, they possess a 

 character which appears to be peculiar to them. 

 The outline of the hair is deeply serrated, and the 



Fig. 28. Hair of Nycticejus 

 luteus x 300. 



Fig. 



29. Hair of Nycticejus 

 castaneus x 3U0. 



scales are irregular but very indistinct (figs. 28, 29) ; 

 when mounted in balsam there is the appearance of 

 imbrication, which may result from the great trans- 

 parency of the hairs. In the four species examined 

 great difficulty was experienced in making out dis- 

 tinctly the form of the scales, and in this all the 

 species agreed. No trace of medulla was visible. 

 The figures are those of two species, Nydicejus 

 castaneus, which inhabits Malayan countries, and 

 Nycticejus luteus, a species very abundant in many 

 parts of India. 



The last group is a large one, and contains 

 the small Bats comprising the greater portion of 

 the family Vespertilionidre, including the genera 

 Scotophilus, Lasiurus, Kerivoula, Vespertilio, and 

 Plecotus. The margins of the scales are usually 

 oblique, darkened by deposits of pigment, and, 

 especially iu Plecotus, only partially surround the 



hair, and are alternately arranged upon the shaft. 

 The serratures on the outline of the hairs are 

 seldom opposite, and the hairs themselves are 

 slender. In many cases there is the appearance of 

 a spiral arrangement, but this view is clearly de- 

 ceptive and originates in the oblique margins of 

 the scales. A true spiral arrangement can in no 

 instance be really determined. 



Zoologists are not wholly agreed amongst them- 

 selves as to the limits and distinctions of the genera 

 in this group. One calls Lasiurus a Vespertilio, 

 another calls a Kerivoula a Vespertilio, and another 

 charges a fourth with making a Scotophilus a 

 Kerivoula, whilst a fifth removes a Vespertilio to a 

 new genus, and gives it a new name. This un- 

 certainty evidences the close alliance of the genera, 

 which the microscopical appearance of the hairs 

 corroborates. 



Our space forbids further aud technical details of 

 the distinctions of the hairs in this group, of which 

 we give two or three illustrations. The hairs of the 

 "Madras Bat" {Scotophilus Maderas patensis) (fig. 

 30) represents the general character in the hairs of 

 Scotophilus. Fig. 31 is the hair of the one species 

 of Lasiurus known as Lasiurus Pearsonii. The 

 Kerivoulas are represented by the hair (fig. 33) of the 

 typical species {Kerivoula picta). The genus Vesper- 

 tilio is similar in the structure of its hairs, as seen 

 in fig. 31; and Plecotus homochrous and Plecotus 

 Darjelingensis (fig. 32) are undoubtedly only varieties 

 of the British Great- eared Bat (Plecotus auritus). 



* 



[ . 



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M 



(1. 



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Fig. 30. Hair of 



Scotophilus 

 maderas patensis 

 x 300. 



I! 



Fig. 31. Hair of 



Lasiurus 

 Pearsonii x 300. 



Fig. 32. Hair of 



Plecotus 

 Darjelingensis 

 x 300. 



The genera which still require to be examined, 

 are Xantharpyia, which has only a Malayan repre- 

 sentative; Noctulinia, which is also British; Murina, 

 which has one species in the Himalayan region; 

 Myotis,' which has five species, one of which is 

 British ; the common Barbastelle, which is British 

 as well as Indian ; aud Nyctophilias] Geoffroyi, a 

 European species. The hair of Cheiromeles is so 



