436 Miscellaneous. 



On a new Species of Bat from Zambesia. 

 By Dr. J. Kirk. 



Nycticejus nidicola. 



Fur brown, the base of the hairs blackish ; beneath yellowish. 

 Ears ovate, acute, with a well-developed rounded process at the front 

 part of the outer or lower edge. Tongue linear lanceolate, acute, 

 rather more than half the length of the ear. Face depressed, bristly. 

 Wings elongate, thin, bald, rather hairy above and below close to 

 the body ; forearm- bone nearly li inch long ; the thumb com- 

 pressed, rather elongate, slender, of a single joint. Tail as long as 

 the body. The interfemoral membrane very large, broad, with 

 nearly regular, almost parallel transverse muscular bands, which are 

 hairy on the upper and lower surface. The spur elongate, strong, 

 nearly as long as the fore leg and foot ; the spur and the end of the 

 membrane fringed with short, rather rigid hairs. The legs rather 

 elongate ; the lower part of the thigh slender ; the shank slender, 

 not quite half the length of the arm-bone ; the toes moderate, slender, 

 compressed, covered with short adpressed hairs. 



Expanse of wings 10 inches, of forearm-bone I'D inch, of fore 

 leg 8 inches, of foot 3 inches, of spur 9^ lines. 



Shupanga, near the Zambesi. 



Four specimens were obtained ; they had taken possession of the 

 nests of Weaver-birds (Euplectes). Having accidentally found a pair 

 in one of these hanging nests, others were soon discovered in similar 

 positions near by. — Proc. Zool. Soc. Dec. 13, 1864. 



Preservation of Starfishes with their Natural Colours. 

 By A. E. Verrill. 



Starfishes may be dried, so as to retain their natural colours almost 

 unimpaired, by immersing them in alcohol of moderate strength for 

 about a minute, or just long enough to destroy life and produce 

 contraction of the tissues, and afterwards drying them rapidly by 

 artificial heat. The drying is best effected by placing them upon an 

 open cloth stretched tightly upon a frame and supported a few feet 

 above a stove. Care should be taken not to raise the heat too high, 

 as the green shades change to red at a temperature near that of 

 boiling water. By this process I have succeeded in preserving the 

 delicate shades of red, purple, and orange of the species found on 

 the coast of New England, including Solaster papposus, S. endeca, 

 Crihella, Asteracanthion vallide, A. littoralum, and various other 

 species, specimens of which are preserved in the Museum of Yale 

 College. 



The same process is equally applicable to Echini and Crustacea. — 

 Silliman's Journal, March 1865. 



