Mr. R. F. Tomes on the genus Nyctophilus. 383 



stralia in having the fur everywhere short and cottony, perfectly de- 

 void of lustre, and unicoloured. 



That of the upper parts is of a dark olive-brown, without any 

 variation of tint, excepting that it is perhaps a little darker along 

 the middle of the back than elsewhere. 



Beneath, the fur is similar, but paler in colour, with the tips of 

 the hairs a Httle tinged with ash-colour. This is the colour of the 

 whole of the under parts, with the exception of a patch on the throat, 

 which is whitish- brown, dirty white, and occasionally pure white. 



Immature examples often have the fur above and beneath of a very 

 dark olive-brown, almost black. One specimen of this dark colour 

 which I have examined, has the spot on the throat almost pure 

 white. 



So far as I have been able to ascertain, this species is subject to 

 very trifling variations either in colour or size in the adult state, and 

 the size agrees so closely with that of the species which I have called 

 N. Gouldi, that I at first thought the great difference in the texture 

 and colour of the fur was due to the difference of locality. 



In the crania, however, I find such differences as are amply suf- 

 ficient for the distinction of the species *. 



The following dimensions are taken from three specimens collected 

 by Mr. Gould in Van Diemen's Land ; the first a male, and the 

 second a female, both adult ; and the third obviously immature. 



1. 2. 3. 



in. lin. in. lin. in. lin. 



Length of the head and body (about). . 2 2 2 1 10 



of the tail 110 1 8 1 7 



of the head 8^ 9 8^ 



of the ears 10 10 9i 



of the tragus 2 If 2 



Breadth of the ears 7i 8 7i 



^— of the tragus 2 If 1^ 



Length of the fore-arm 1 7\ 1 7 1 6^ 



of the longest finger 2 10 2 8 2 1 



of the fourth finger 2 2 2 8 2 0^ 



of the thumb 4 4^ 4 



of the tibia 8i 7\ 7 



of the foot and claws 4^ 4 3| 



of the OS calcis 7 ^ 7 



Expanse of wings 11 6 11 10 4 



The crania of the four species here described differ so consider- 

 ably, that I deem it advisable to make mention of them apart 

 from the foregoing description. By adopting this plan, I am en- 

 abled to bring them into more immediate comparison, which is 



* To the description of this species should have been added, that the ears are 

 destitute of sulci, and more membranaceous than in the other species, and that 

 the wing-raembranes are darker in colour and much more opaque and leathery. 



