326 bulletin: museum of comparative zoology. 



I was unable to shoot specimens. One, however, was knocked down 

 with a stick as it flew past me, and proves to be identical in every way 

 with the description of Mr. Thomas's specimen. The fur is pale 

 buffy above, slightly paler below, the bases of the hairs everywhere 

 blackish slate. The hinder margins of the wings and interfemoral 

 membrane are conspicuously edged with white, recalling P. kuhli, 

 from which, however, it is doubtless specifically distinct. The forearm 

 measurement in the dried skin is 29.5 mm., exactly as given for the 

 type, but the same dimension taken in the flesh was 30. Other 

 dimensions follow, and in parentheses, the corresponding measure- 

 ments as given by Thomas: head and body, 45 (43); tail, 32 (33); 

 ear, 11 (10) ; 3d finger, metacarpal, 29 (29); first phalanx, 10 (10); 

 second phalanx, 8.5 (8.5); tibia, 11.5; calcar, 12. Skull, greatest 

 length, 11.5 (11.6); median length above, 10 (10); interorbital con- 

 striction, 3 (3.1); breadth of braincase, 6.5 (6.2); front of canine to 

 back of molar 3 , 4 (4.3). 



Eptesicus minutus somalicus (Thomas). 



Vespertilio minutus somalicus Thomas, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., 1901, 

 ser. 7, 8, p. 32. 



Two specimens obtained along the Guaso Nyiro are identical in 

 measurements with those given for this race by Thomas, who says 

 that it is to be distinguished from minutus, chiefly by its paler color- 

 ing, and by the conspicuous white edge of the wings and interfemoral 

 membrane. The skull is also slightly smaller than that of South 

 African examples. In the alcoholic specimen in our collection, the 

 white edge is plainly evident, but in the dried skin does not appear. 

 The latter specimen may be slightly darker than Thomas's descrip- 

 tion implies, and there is a sprinkling of pure white hairs in the fur 

 of the lower back, which, however, may be albinistic. Since the 

 Guaso Nyiro region seems to be the southern limit of a number of 

 Abyssinian forms, it is probable that these bats are referable to 

 somalicus, rather than typical minutus. The type of the former is 

 from Hargaisa, Somaliland, at 3,500 feet, and Thomas mentions 

 additional specimens from Berbera. The forearm measurement is 

 30.8 mm. in our alcoholic specimen and 31 mm. in the dried skin. 

 Thomas gives 31 mm. for the type specimen. 



