280 On a new Bat of the Genus Scotsecus. 



XXIII, — A neio Bat of the Genus Scoisscws. 

 By Oldfield Thomas. 



(Published by penuissiou of the Trustees of the British Museum.) 



Among a series of well-prepared skins from NyasalanJ 

 presented to the National Museum by Mr. Rodney C. Wood, 

 there occur examples of several rare bats, notably Myotis 

 welwitschii and hocngei, Olauconycteris papilio^ Eptesicus 

 megalurus, and a ScotcBCus which appears to be new. The 

 last may be called 



Scotceciis woodi, sp. n. 



Near S. albofuscus of the Gambia, but smaller. 



Size about the smallest of the genus. General colour 

 above dark brown (near mummy-brown), the tips of the 

 hairs paler brown ; under surface little paler, near Front's 

 brown. Wings coloured as in S. albofuscus, the forearms, 

 digits, hind limbs, and tail blackish, the membranes internal 

 to a line from elbow to knee, and the interfemoral dark 

 brown, those external to forearms dull whitish, rather darker 

 terminally. Ears short, with large external basal lobe ; 

 tragus short and broad, its inner margin slightly concave. 



Skull short and stumpy, of the characteristic broad shape 

 usual in the genus, the lacrymal breadth even greater than 

 in S. albofuscus. Nasal notch very deep. Median part of 

 zygoma absent in type. 



Incisors slender, their bases not touching the canines. 

 Canines broadened transversely, their basal area broader 

 than long, and flattened behind, close and parallel to the 

 front edge of the large premolar ; no small premolar or place 

 for it present. 



Dimensions of the type (the italicized measurements taken 

 in the flesh) : — 



Forearm 28'5 mm. 



Head and body 56 mm. ; tail 21 ; ear 12. 



Third finger, metacarpus 28, first phalanx 10, second 

 phalanx 8 ; lower leg and hind foot (c. u.) 17'5. 



Skull: greatest length 13'2; median upper length 11; 

 basi-sinual length 9*8 ; greatest breadth 10'3 ; lacrymal 

 breadth 6"7 ; mastoid breadth 9*1 ; palato-sinual length 4*5; 

 front of canine to back of ni 4*9. 



Hah. Southern Nyasaland. Type from Chiromo ; alt. 

 200'. 



