NYCTICEJUS HEATHII. ■ 37 



Gen. Nycticejus, Horsfield. 



Chai'. — Incisors in tlie yomig: — : in adults — ; moIai"s ; upper 



•^ « G 6 5—5 ^ ^ 



incisors resembling canine teeth ; ears sliort and broad, distant, and 

 stand out from the head ; muzzle broad. 



The bats of this group are more brightly coloured than any of the 

 tribe, most of them being yellow beneath, of different shades ; this, added 

 to their peculiar physiognomy, caused by the short muzzle, and the ears 

 standing out laterally, causes them to be easily recognized. There are 

 several species in India, and they are mostly numerous in individuals. 



42. Nycticejus Heathii. 

 Horsfield, P. Z. S. 1831, 113.— Blyth, Cat. 91. 



The Large Yellow Bat. 



Descr. — Ears shorter than the head, straight, oblong, with rounded 

 tip, sub-emarginate posteriorly, lobed ; tragus linear, slightly curved ; 

 fur short, soft, shining ; above, bright olivaceous with a tinge of ferru- 

 ginous or golden-brown ; beneath pale and slightly gi'eenish-yellow. 



Length, G to Q\ inches, of which the tail is 2\ ; expanse 18 ; fore- 

 arm 21 to 2f . 



This handsome bat is by no means rare in Southern India, in the 

 Carnatic, and the Malabar coast ; and it is also met with, though rarely, 

 in some parts of Central India. It roosts both in houses and trees. 



43. Nycticejus luteus. 



Blyth, J. A. S. XX. 157, and Cat. 92. — N. flaveolus apud Hors- 

 field, Cat. 



The Bengal Yellow Bat. 



Descr. — Similar to the last species, but smaller ; above, rich yellow- 

 brown, or bright golden-rufous, or dark olive-brown ; beneath, pale buff, 

 or dark buff, or yellow, or yellowish-gray. 



Length, b\ inches, of which the tail is 21 ; expanse 14| ; fore- 

 arm 2^. Others are smaller. 



This bat is found over all the continent of India. I have seen it in 

 the Carnatic, also in the N. W. Provinces, and it is very common about 

 Calcutta. It also occurs all over Burmah to Assam. The colours of 

 this, and the allied species, fade much on exposure to light. 



