Mr. 11. F. Tomes 0/^ 7ie?v species of Bats. 227 



eoulhuMit of Europe), and Ve.'^p. suill.us, Temm., called Murina 

 sulUus by Dr. Gray, and NoctUinia Lasyura by Mr. Hodgson. 



From this it must be evident that this character is of generic value 

 only when associated with others of greater constancy, and it is only 

 by the characters taken collectively that the groups can be truthfully 

 defined. 



The form of the head, the muzzle, and the nostrils, of the ears and 

 the tragi, the extent of the membrane in reference to the hinder ex- 

 tremities, the quality and distribution of the fur, the number and 

 form of the upper incisors, and more than all, the general conforma- 

 tion of the cranium, supply the means by which the Lasiuri may be 

 recognized and associated. 



Mr. Tegetmeier exhibited a collection of skins of new varieties of 

 domestic Fowls, the property of Mr. C. Darwin. 



Those from the Madras Presidency were chiefly of the Malay type, 

 .more or less resembling the gigantic Kulm Fowls that were imported 

 some years since by Colonel Sykes, and which were formerly in the 

 possession of the Society. The Fowls from Singapore were remark- 

 able for the recurved character of the plumage. The interior of 

 Persia furnished a very beautiful steel-black variety, perfectly distinct 

 from any known in this country, and which was stated to be the 

 Common Fowl of the district. Good specimens of the black-skinned, 

 white silky-plumaged Fowl with black periosteum were forwarded 

 both from Singapore and Madras, Mr. Tegetmeier called attention 

 to the fact, that all the specimens shown differed in a much greater 

 degree, than our common English Game Fowls, from the Gallus 

 Banklva, so frequently asserted to be the origin of our domesticated 

 species of the genus Gallus. 



March 10, 1857.— Dr. Gray, F.R.S., in the Chair. 



Descriptions of Four undescribed species of Bats, 

 By Robert F, Tomes. 



i. scotophilus pachyomus, u. s. 



Muzzle rather obtuse ; ears ovoid ; tragus shorty of nearly uni- 

 form breadth, and round at the end. Wing-membranes ex- 

 tending to the base of the toes. Fur bicoloured. Size rather 

 larger than S. noctula. 



This species appertains to the same division of the genus as S. 

 pipistrellus, S. Kuhlii, S. marginatus, S. minufus, and perhaps S. 

 Carolinensis ; but it is to the S. discolor of Europe that it bears the 

 greatest apparent resemblance, owing in some measure to the simi- 

 larity in the quality and colour of the fur. 



In size it a little exceeds the Noctule Bat, being much the largest 

 species of the restricted group to which it belongs. 



pearance to Lasiurus Pearsonii, but not more than half the size, and with less 

 hair on the interfemoral membrane. The so-called British species is, I believe, 

 no other than Fesp. mystacinus. 



15* 



