78 EECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM. 



DiPULUs C.ECUS, s]}. nov. 



(Plate xi., fig. 2.) 



Length of head 8*3 in the total, its depth equal to that of the 

 body, or 1 -7 in its length. The width of the head is slightly more 

 than its depth and much greater than the thickness of the body. 



The snout is very tumid, its anterior profile almost vertical ; in 

 company with the front portion of both upper and lower jaws it 

 bears a number of large pores, surrounded by folds and tiaps of 

 membrane (see fig. 2a). 



Simple pores are, in addition, present on other parts of the 

 head, notably a pair above the expanded end of the maxilla, and 

 a series at long intervals along the rami of the mandible. The 

 posterior nostrils are very evident, situated near the end of the 

 snout, and have a supero-lateral aspect, the anterior ones, which 

 may not be distinguished from the pores referred to, appeal- to be 

 placed on the front aspect of the snout within the dermal folds. 

 Eye not visible. The orbit, as ascertained through the skin, lies 

 wholly within the anterior third of the head, its diameter being 

 half the length of the snout. 



Teeth.— The teeth are very small and sharply pointed, and ar^ 

 present in bands in both jaws, on the vomer and palatines. 



The maxilla is greatly broadened behind, and extends to far 

 beyond the hinder margin of the orbit. 



Fins. — The dorsal fin begins behind the base of the pectoral, 

 its distance from the snout less than one-sixth of the total length, 

 caudal excluded. Origin of anal nearer to the snout than to the 

 base of the caudal. Pectoral normal, less than half the length of 

 the head. The ventrals consist each of a simple ray placed close 

 together, in advance of the pectoral, they are very short, equalling 

 the snout in length. V^ent situated far behind the head, its 

 distance therefrom three-fourths the post-ventral length. It is 

 quite distinct from the uro-genital orifice, which is bordered 

 before and behind with very large labia. Immediately within 

 the anterior lip is a pair of large leaf -like appendages at the base 

 of which lies the penis. 



The folds and flaps of membrane suri'ounding the pores on the 

 snout and mandible recall the condition in some of the leaf-nosed 

 Bats. The analogy may indeed be very close : the fish is blind 

 and the Rhinolophidte hunt in the dark. 



" In their habits they appear to differ from other insectivorous Bats 

 without nasal appendages, inhabiting the same regions, by coming out 

 later in the evenintr, or when the sun has completely gone down below 

 the horizon. Tins peculiarity is probably connected with their possession 



