BARBASTELLA 



265 



about as long as tibia, with small but evident terminal lol)e and 

 posterior keel ; tail with extreme tip projecting beyond inter- 

 femoral membrane. 



Colour. — General colour a very dark brown between the seal- 

 brown and vandyke-brown of Ridgway, the hairs everywhere 

 dark brown to extreme base, those of upper parts tipped with 

 light glossy wood-brown producing a sharply contrasted wash 

 throughout region behind shoulders, those of underparts tipped 

 with a paler, more drabby brown, but without producing so 

 decided a contrast as on back, though the wash is usually evident 

 along middle of belly ; hairs on base of under side of interfemoral 

 membrane pale ecru-drab or whitish smoke-grey nearly or quite 

 to base. Ears and membranes in dry specimens brown, hardly 

 so dark as ground colour of body. 



Skull. — The skull, though lightly-built and small, scarcely 

 exceeding that of Myotis mystacinus in length, is rather deep and 

 robust, with unusually large brain-case relatively to the short 

 rostrum. Dorsal profile abruptly convex over anterior half of 

 brain-case, then nearly horizontal to somewhat overhanging 

 occiput ; ventral profile nearly horizontal, the floor of brain-case 

 scarcely elevated above level of tooth-row. Brain-case high and 

 inflated anteriorly, relatively low posteriorly, its lateral outlines 

 when viewed from above essentially as in the 

 species of Myotis, but less rounded and globular 

 posteriorly ; floor of brain-case with no special 

 peculiarities; auditory bulhie scarcely more in- 

 flated than in the small sj^ecies of Myotis. 

 Interorbital region slightly constricted, its sur- 

 face flattened and not well defined from that of 

 rostrum ; lachrymal ridges rather prominent, 

 especially at their lower extremities. Zygoma 

 nearly straight, scarcely bowed outward beyond 

 level of outer surface of brain-case. Ante- „ 



orbital foramen relatively large, over anterior Barbastaia harha- 

 margin of m^. Rostrum short, its upper sur- steiius. Nat. size. 

 face flattened-concave, deeply emarginate in 

 front by the unusual backward extension of the uppei- margin of 

 anterior nares, the posterior border of which is at level of ante- 

 orbital foramina, exposing anterior extremity of vomer. Palate 

 short, noticeably concave both longitudinally and laterally ; its 

 anterior emargination small, extending slightly behind level of 

 middle of canine ; its posterior border slightly behind level of m^, 

 double emarginate with short median projection ; mesopterygoid 

 space slightly wider than long. Mandible slender, with no special 

 peculiarities. 



Teeth. — In general aspect the teeth resemble those of Plecotus 

 auritus, though they are throughout smaller and more slender. 

 Incisors both above and below essentially as in Plecotus auritus 

 except that crown of outer upper incisor is nearly terete, and 



