TAPHOZOUS MELANOPOGON. 31 



The face is flat, and the nostrils can be closed at pleasure. There is a 

 large gular sac in the males, which is glandular; a longitudinal fold on each 

 side leads to this sac. The fur is close, soft, and velvety. The wing is 

 long and narrow, and collapses with a double flexure outwards. From the 

 warmer regions of the old world and Australia. 



31. Taphozous longimanus. 



Hardwicke, Lin, Trans., XIV. pi. 17.— Blyth, Cat. 85. — T. hrevi- 

 tnanusy cantori, and /ulvidns, Blyth (olim). 



The Long-armed Bat. 



Desc7\ — Ears, oval, with many distinct folds, naked except at the base ; 

 tragus, securiform ; fur, thick, close, fuscous-black or dark fuscous- brown 

 above ; beneath paler, except on the throat, the hairs being conspicuously 

 tipped with grey ; the upjier hairs all white at their base ; face, nude ; it 

 and the membranes, dark brownish-black. 



A fulvescent variety was named T. fulvidas by Blyth, who subse- 

 quently stated that yo\ing individuals are fulvescent and become gradually 

 blacker with age. 



Length, about 5 inches ; expanse, 15 to 16 inches; tail, 1, capable of 

 being protruded for f inch ; fore-arm, 2| ; tibia, 1 ; ear, J^ internally. 



The long-armed bat is very common about large towns, as at Madras 

 and Calcutta, and is found generally throughout India. It frequents dark 

 out-houses, cellars, stabling, old temples, and the like. Blyth noticed that 

 it had the faculty of creeping about on a vertical board (of a cage) in a 

 most surprising manner, hitching its claws into the minute })ores of the 

 wood. 



32. Taphozous melanopogon. 



Temminck. — HoRSFiELD, Cat. 69. 



The Black-bearded Bat. 



Descr. — Ears, moderate, oval, with the outer margin extending under 

 the eyes, dilated into a large rounded lobe ; the tragus, leaf- shaped ; the 

 head, muzzle, and chin covered with short hairs. Above brown or reddish- 

 brown ; beneath brownish-white, with a long black collar or beard round 

 the throat of the male, surrounded by a light brown band. Many males, 

 however, it is stated, want this collar. The females are brownish-mouse, 

 gray above, lighter beneath. 



