270 CHIROPTERA 



metacarpals sub-equal, about 3 mm. shorter than forearm ; iifth 

 metacarpal about 4 mm. shorter than third ; membrane joinint;' 

 leg at or a little above ankle. Leg rather slender, the foot 

 scai'cely half as long as tibia ; calcar about as long as tibia and 

 nearly equal to free border of uropatagium, its distal termination 

 very obscure, its posterior border without trace of keel. Tail 

 about as long as head and bod}', included in the membrane to 

 extreme tip. 



Fur and colour. — The fur is of a very soft, silky texture, 

 though rather short, the hairs at middle of back only about 

 7 mm. in length, those of head abruptly much shorter (about 

 4 mm.) in rather noticeable contrast. Above it scarcely extends 

 on membranes except for a sparse pubescence on basal half of 

 median portion of uropatagium ; below it reaches line joining- 

 middle of forearm with knee and continues across extreme base 

 of uropatagium. General colour of upper parts drab, faintly 

 lighter and more nearly hair-brown anteriorly ; underparts ecru- 

 drab. The hairs of back show three evident though not strongly 

 contrasted colour-bands : (a) at base (3 mm.), a slaty mouse-grey ; 

 (h) at middle (tips of shorter hairs, 2 mm.), ecru-drab ; and (c) at 

 tip (extremities of longer hairs, 2 mm.), drab. Muzzle, ears and 

 membranes brown, scarcely darker than body. 



Skull. — The skull differs from that of all other European bats 

 in the great inflation of the anterior poi'tion of brain-case and 

 the consequent very abrupt angle at which the forehead rises 

 above the low, flat rostrum. In other respects the general aspect 

 of skull, especially when viewed from above, is rather slender 

 and lightly built. Dorsal profile rising gradually from front 

 of nares to inter-lachrymal region, then 

 abruptly at an angle of nearly 45*^ to middle 

 of anterior portion of brain-case which is 

 nearly or quite as high as lambda, the region 

 ■L^!}- ^^>^ between these two highest points occupied 



by a shallow concavity corresponding to 

 anterior edge of interparietal ; below and 

 behind lambda the supraoccipital bulges 

 noticeably outward, but not sufliciently to 

 conceal condyles when skull is viewed from 

 directly above ; ventral profile nearly flat, 

 Via. 47. slightly elevated posteriorly. Brain-case 



Miniopterus schreibersii. in i- j.i i.T i i i. i 



Nat. size. broadly ovate, the outline broken at each 



side posteriorly by the slightly projecting 

 mastoid region ; sagittal crest low but evident anteriorly, 

 obsolete posteriorly ; lambdoid crest moderately developed at 

 sides, barely indicated at middle ; general outline of skull when 

 viewed from behind squarish) the depth through bulla about 

 equal to bi'eadth of brain-case ; floor of brain-case with no special 

 peculiarities ; between cochlea and median line a shallow groove 

 with abrupt pit-like anterior termination a noticeable ridge 



