134 



2. On Two Species of Bats inhabiting New Zealand. 

 By Robert f, Tomės. 



(Mammalia, PI. LIII., LIV.) 



The first notice of the occurrence of Cheiroptera in New Zealaud 

 was given by Forster in 1 112-1 \ *, who recorded the occurrence of 

 a Bat flying over the sea-shore near the margin of a wood in the 

 estuary of Queen Charlotte. It was shot, but being struck only in 

 the wing, lived for two days. " He was described by me," says he, 

 "and was drawn by my son." To this species Forster gavę the 

 name of Vespertilio tuherculatus. The description has been pub- 

 lished in the work noted below, and the drawing is now in the British 

 Museura. I shall have occasion to refer to both the description and 

 the figure. 



In 1843 Dr. Gray gavę a very condensed description of a Bat in 

 the Appendix to Dieffenbach's Travels in New Zealand, which he, 

 believing to be the species mentioned in the MSS. of Forster, called 

 by the šame specific name. As Dr. Gray had specimens for exami- 

 nation, he at once perceived that they could by no means be eonsi- 

 dered as representatives of the genus Vespertilio, and that they did 

 not even belong to the šame family. Accordingly we find them 

 in the ' Catalogue of the Mammalia of the British Museum,' pub- 

 lished in 1843, placed in the Family Noctilionina, -vvith the new 

 generic appellation Mystucina, the old specific name tuberculata 

 being retained. 



Having some time since had occasion to examine some species of 

 Bats in the Museum of the CoUege of Surgeons, Prof. Quekett 

 showed me one which had been recently received from New Zealand. 

 It was not until I had been assured that it came directly from that 

 country, in a bottle with a coUection of New Zealaud insects, that I 

 could be persuaded that no mistake as to locality had been made. 

 The forms presented by this example were so entirely unlike those 

 of the only New Zealand species vvith which I was acquainted, that 

 it was with considerable surprise I beheld a bat having pretty much 

 the šame forms and proportions as the common httle English Pipi- 

 strelle. 



Shortly afterwards an opportuuity occurred of inspecting the fine 

 collection of Cheiroptera in the Leyden Museum, vrhich contains 

 three examples of this supposed new species, but without any specific 

 name. Finally, I detected other examples in the British Museum, 

 amounting in number to five. 



Being tlien satisfied of the existence of two species of Bats in New 

 Zealand, I was anxious to pursue tlie subject further, and to deter- 

 mine, if possible, to which of these Forster had given the name of 

 V. tuherculatus. The kindness of Dr. Gray speedily placed in my 

 hands all the necessary materials. There could be no hesitation ; 

 the supposed new species was imdoubtedly the one from which 



* Descriptiones animalium in itinere ad maris australis terras per annos 1 772-74 

 suscepto observatorum, edidit H. Lichtenstein. 1844. 



