276 



CHIROPTERA 



Family MOLOSSID^. 



1865. Mulossi Peters, Monatsber. k. preuss. Akad. Wissensch., Berlin, p. 258. 

 1872. Molossidx Gill, Arrangement of the Families of Mammals, p. 17. 

 1878. Emhallonuridx (part ; Molossime, part, Molossi) Dobson, Catal. 



Chiropt. Brit. Mus., p. 402. 

 1907. Molossidx Miller, Families and Genera of Bats, p. 241, June 29, 1907. 



Geograjjlncal clistrihufion.- — Warmer parts of both hemispheres ; 

 in the Old World north to the Mediterranean region and 

 southern Asia. 



Characters. — Essentially like the VespertHiotiidse except that 

 the secondary articulation of humerus with scapula is more 

 perfectly developed and the fibula is robust, adding appreciably 

 to strength of leg. Auditory bulla noticeably emarginate on inner 

 side. Tail projecting very consj^icuously beyond membrane, a 

 character by which the only European member of the group may 

 be immediately I'ecognized. 



BemarJcH. — The family Molossidse is widely distributed in the 

 warmer parts of both hemispheres. Eleven genera are now 

 known, one of which is represented in the Mediterranean region 

 of Eurojae. 



Genus NYCTINOMUS Geoftroy. 



1818. Nyctinomus Geoffrey, Descr. de I'Egypte, ii, p. 114 ({egyptiacus). 

 1821. Nyctinoma Bowdich, Anal. Nat. Class. Mamm., p. 28 (Modification 

 of Nyciincmiiis). 



1821. Nyctinomes Gray, London Med. Eepos., xv, p. 299, April 1, 1821 



(Modification of Nyctinomus). 



1822. Nyctinomia Fleming, Philos. of ZooL, ii, p. 178 (Modification of 



Nyctinomus). 

 1842. Mops Lesson, Nouv. Tabl. Regno Auim., p. IS (Mops indicus Lesson 



= Dysopcs mops F. Cuvier). 

 1878. Nyctinomus Dobson, Catal. Chiropt. Brit. Mus., p. 420 (part). 

 1902. Nyctinomops Miller, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, p. 393, 



September 12, 1902 [fcmorosaccxis). 

 1907. Nyctinomus Miller, Families and Genera of Bats, p. 251, June 29, 1907. 



Type species. — Nyctinomus segypiiacus Geoffroy. 



Geographical distribution. — Warmer portions of both hemi- 

 spheres, north to the southern United States and to the Mediter- 

 ranean coast of Euroj^e, east to the Pliilipjsines and Norfolk 

 Island. 



Characters. — Dental formula: i 'J; or y.,* c '^, jmi j;-^, m :: ;' = 30 

 or 32 ; brain-case not unusually flattened, its dej^th at least half 

 its width ; bony palate with a small median anterior emargination 

 extending to behind level of roots of incisors. 



Reynarhs. — As thus defined the genus Nyctinomus contains 



* In the species occurring in Europe. 



