148 J. Wood-Mason — On Phasmidce. [July, 



The writer believes that many of the so-called species which go to make 

 up the large number from Malayana have been founded on insufficient 

 grounds, as several are distinguished solely by the colour of the fur, a most 

 fallacious character in many orders of Mammals, and especially so in the 

 Ghiroptera. Distinctions based on the shape of the skull and size and form of 

 the teeth are not satisfactory, for it should certainly be possible to determine 

 the species to which a given vertebrate animal belongs without first finding 

 it necessary to kill and make a skeleton of it. 



A very valuable character for distinguishing the species of Pteropi, as well 

 as other species of Ghiroptera, is shown to exist in the shape and relative 

 size of the ears, the importance of which has not been sufficiently recognised. 

 This if taken in connection with accurate measurements will, in most cases, if 

 not in all, be found quite sufficient. 



Pt. nicobaricus, Fitz. et Zel., from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, 

 is redescribed as it is impossible to recognise the species from the 

 original description in the Zoology of the Novara expedition.* This 

 species is at once distinguished from Pt. meclius by the form of its ears 

 which are rounded, not acutely pointed at the tips. 



A well-marked variety of Cynopterus marginatus, G. andamanensis, is 

 described, and Cynopterus Sherzeri, Fitz. et Zel. from the Nicobars distin- 

 guished from other species of the genus, the original description of this 

 species being cmite useless as a means of diagnosis. 



A new species of Cynonycteris from the Malay Archipelago, G. minor, 

 is also described. This species is readily distinguished from G. amplexi- 

 caudatus, Geoff, by its small ears which are also proportionately much 

 narrower. 



Other species of Indian Pteropi are redescribed, and a new genus, 

 JEonycteris, is established for the reception of Macroglossus spelceus, Dobson. 



3. Description of a new species of Vespertilio from the North-Western 

 Himalaya. — By G. E. Dobson, B. A., M. B. 

 (Abstract.) 

 The new species for which the name Vespertilio murinoides is proposed, 

 resembles V. murinus, L. but is distinguished by its smaller size, by the 

 shape of the ears and tragus which is very acutely pointed, not subacute, as 

 in the latter species, and by the small size of the first upper premolar. 

 Both papers will appear in the Journal. 



4. Note on certain species of Phasmidce hitherto referred to the genus 



Bacillus. — By James Wood-Mason, of Queen's College, Oxford. 



The discovery which I have to announce, viz., that the true males of 



Bacillus insignis and its allies are to be sought in insects of the type of 



* Reise der Oester. Freg. ' Novara/ ibaugethiere, p. 11. 



