37.6 Zoological Society : — 



Nyctophilus is not more remote from the genus Vespertilio, than are 

 the genera Barbastellus and PlecotuSy and further to show that it is 

 as intimately alUed to the last of these as to any other genus. 



In the course of a very careful study which I have made of the 

 crania of a number of examples, I have detected one or two errors in 

 the account given of the dentition, both by Dr. Leach and M. Tem- 

 minck. These will be pointed out in their proper place. 



Fam. Vespertilionidje. 



Genus Nyctophilus. 



The top of the head is but slightly elevated, not more so than in 

 Plecotus auritus, and the muzzle is relatively of about the same 

 length and substance as in that species. The forehead, between the 

 eyes, is a little depressed, producing a slight hollow somewhat as in 

 the genus Taphozous, but in a much less degree. The nose-leaves 

 are simple ; the first is placed immediately above the nostrils ; it is 

 transverse, and there is a kind of thickened line or ridge passing 

 from the lower margin of the nostrils on each side, and uniting with 

 its outer boundaries. The upper margin of this leaf is straight and 

 even. The second nose-leaf is placed at a greater distance from the 

 first, than the first is from the nostrils. It is also transverse, but is 

 higher in the middle than at the sides, is much thicker in substance, 

 and is thickly clothed with short bristly hairs. The nostrils are 

 small and not prominent, nearly round when seen in front, but with 

 ~a backward narrow extension nearly reaching to the outer margin of 

 the first nose-leaf, when examined laterally. The ears are large, — 

 about one-fourth longer than the head, — regularly ovoid, and one- 

 fourth longer than wide. They are united at their bases by a piece 

 of transverse membrane across the top of the head, as in Plecotus. 

 This membrane is not attached to the inner edge of the ears, but to 

 their hinder surface, so as to leave the margins free. It extends for 

 nearly one-third of the length of the ear. The tragus is short and 

 broad, but rather thin and membranous. Quite at its root it is nar- 

 row ; but it suddenly attains its full breadth, and taking at once a 

 vertical direction, tapers somewhat unevenly to a narrow but rounded 

 point. The outer margin, near to the base, is the most prominent 

 part ; it is rounded, and in some individuals with one or two pro- 

 jecting points. Above this prominence, about the middle of the 

 outer margin, it is slightly hollowed or scooped out, and the inner 

 margin has a corresponding prominent outline immediately opposite 

 to this hollow. The tip is much narrower than any other part of 

 the tragus, but it is nevertheless quite rounded. Although the 

 general form of the tragus is pretty similar in all the examples I 

 have seen, yet it appears liable to greater variations than is usual in 

 most species of Vespertilionidce. For instance, in some examples 

 the mai-gins, although possessing a somewhat undulating outline, are 

 nevertheless smooth ; whilst in others the whole of the outer one is 

 finely crenulated ; again, the tip is sometimes curved a little inwards, 

 but in others it is quite straight. 



