Mr. R. F. Tomes on the genus Nyctophilus. 887 



narrow ends curving outwards and upwards until they come in im- 

 mediate contact with the base of the nose-leaf, on each side. Late- 

 rally, and below, they are encompassed by the thickened prominent 

 part of the lip, so that they are seen to occupy the bottom of a 

 shallow depression, and open perfectly in front. Between them is a 

 narrow thread-like ridge. Between the first and second nose-leaf is 

 a small but deep hollow or pit, and the second nose-leaf rises behind 

 this in the form of a thick fleshy or cartilaginous projection, not de- 

 serving the name of *'leaf," transverse in direction, but much nar- 

 rower and less prominent than the true nose-leaf, and thickly co- 

 vered with short hairs. Above this appears the facial depression 

 before described. The lower lip is without hairs in front, but the 

 naked part is not clearly defined, as it is in many Vesper tilionidce. 



The ears are conspicuously sulcated, and their outer margins ex- 

 tend along the side of the face in a line with the cleft of the mouth, 

 and end at a little more than a line from its angle. The tragus pre- 

 sents some points of difference from that of dried specimens. Near 

 the base of the outer edge are two distinct points, and above them 

 some fine crenulations, which are succeeded by a portion of the mar- 

 gin, which is singularly indented. It appears as if this portion were 

 thickened, and a little produced backward and forward ; so that when 

 viewing the front surface of the tragus, this part is seen edgeways ; 

 and when the edge of the tragus is seen, this part presents 2ifiat 

 surface*. Above this space the edge again becomes thin, and is 

 finely crenulated to the tip. 



The carpus of the closed wing reaches to the front corner of the 

 eye. The wing-membranes extend precisely to the base of the toes, 

 and the os calcis occupies about one-third of the space between the 

 foot and tip of the tail. The latter is composed of eight or nine 

 vertebrae, the small terminal one being disengaged from the mem- 

 brane. All the claws — of wings and feet — are singularly short and 

 weak. 



in. lin. 

 Length of the head and body .... 211 



of the tail 2 



of the head 11 



of the ears 10 



of the tragus 3 



of the fore-arm 1 9 



of the longest finger 3 4 



of the fourth finger 2 6 



of the thumb 4 



of the foot and claws .... 05 



Expanse of wings 13 



* If a thin sheet of any material of a pasty consistence were taken, and pres- 

 sure applied to a small portion of its edge, so as to thicken it, and raise a kind of 

 rim or bur, visible on each side of the sheet, it would represent pretty exactly 

 this peculiarity of the tragus in Nyctophilus. I may add, that having my attention 

 directed to it, I have been able to detect the same peculiarity in the dried speci- 

 mens, but much less distinctly visible. 



25* 



