154s Zoological Society : — 



the fur is nearly black at its base, and tipped with ash colour ; and 

 the latter colour prevails around the region of the pubes. The 

 specimens from this locality represent the Vesp. dasythrix of M. 

 Temminck, and correspond pretty accurately with his description ; 

 but specimens from the Cape are described by Dr. A. Smith as having 

 the upper parts " intermediate between chestnut-brown and yellowish 

 brown," and the under parts " dull pale brownish red, tinged with 

 wood-brown and yellowish brown, in places strongly tinted with 

 pale reddish orange." I have seen no African example of this 

 colour. 



The cerebral region of the skull is very much elevated, almost as 

 much so as in Furipter us, the evenness of its convexity being interfered 

 with only by a narrow transverse depression occupying the position 

 of the suture uniting the occipital with the parietal bones, by a 

 moderately developed sagittal ridge, most conspicuous on the frontal 

 region, and by an occipital crest of similar degree of development. 



The facial part of the cranium is very much depressed, and it is 

 also considerably compressed. The intermaxillary bones are, as in 

 Furipterus, more developed than is usually the case among the 

 Vespertilionidce, affording sufficient space for the incisors to be in- 

 serted in a nearly perpendicular position, and at the same time to 

 leave a considerable interval between them and the canines. It is 

 worthy of remark, that in this, as in the crania of the other species 

 of the genus, the antorbital foramina are placed more forward than 

 usual, only just behind the canines. The nasal opening is rather 

 small, and the corresponding notch in the front of the palate pro- 

 portional to it in size. The orbit is small, and the zygomatic arches 

 have a very moderate lateral curvature. As in other species having 

 a dome-shaped cranium, the condyloid fossae are in a line high above 

 that of the teeth, and the zygoma in consequence starts at an angle 

 from the line of the dental series and passes upwards and backwards 

 to the condyle. In those species which, like the common Noctule, 

 have a flat cranium, with both the facial and cerebral surfaces in 

 one continuous line, the dental series and the zygoma are in nearly 

 a continuous line also. 



The bony palate presents one peculiarity, viz. that it scarcely ex- 

 tends posteriorly beyond the last molar, whereas in the generality 

 of the Vespertilionidee it reaches as far backwards as halfway be- 

 tween the last molar and the condyles, and in some instances reaches 

 even so far back as to the latter. 



The lower jaw does not present any great peculiarities of structure. 

 It has a rounded posterior angle, to adapt itself to the elevated po- 

 sition of the cranial condyles, and a distinct and well-marked poste- 

 rior process, about halfway between the angle and the condyloid 

 process. The coronoid process is of ordinary form and on a level 

 with the condyle. 



Viewed in front, the upper incisors are seen to be in two pairs, 

 which are separated by a moderately wide opening in the centre, and 

 by another of less extent on each side, between them and the canines ; 

 but the teeth in each of these pairs are placed close together. In 



