On new European Bats. 291 



and, further, the flagellated chambers and collar cells re- 

 semble those of Tetraxonid Sponges. Prof. Mincliin has 

 reminded me of the tendency of gemmule cells to accumulate 

 at the base of a sponge, and has suggested that possibly the 

 calcareous structure may be of the nature of a protective 

 coating for gemmule cells. There are considerable difficulties, 

 however, in the way of accepting this ingenious theory. 



All that it was intended to bring out in these notes was the 

 fact that Merita is a sponge with a siliceous and calcareous 

 skeleton, and that we are justified in assuming that there is now 

 more evidence — slight as it still is — in favour o£ the theory 

 that some Monticuliporas are Sponges than in that of any 

 other theory as to the nature of these fossils. 



A full account of Merlia with figures will shortly be pub- 

 lished in the ' Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science.' 



XLTT. — Description of a new Species and a new Subspecies of 

 European Bats. By G. E. H. BARRETT-HAMILTON. 



There is in the British Museum of Natural History a bat 

 taken in Roumania by the late W. Dodson, and having the 

 geneial appearance of a small Serotine. 1 have long suspected 

 this to be the first known example of a hitherto undetected 

 species, but dared not describe it on the strength of a single 

 specimen. Recently, however, Mr. Gerrit S. Miller, Jun., 

 has had the courtesy to send me for comparison a similar 

 although somewhat larger specimen from the collection of the 

 United States National Museum, taken at St. Gothard, 

 Switzerland. I have now, therefore, no hesitation in de- 

 scribing the new species as follows: — 



Vei-pertilio sodalis, sp. n. 



This bat resembles V. serotinus of Europe in general 

 appearance, proportions and colour, but is smaller. The teeth 

 are relatively larger though not so broad, the length of the 

 cheek-series being actually about as long as in V. serotinus. 

 The skull is relatively stouter and shorter and the cranium 

 rounder and more inflated than in V. serotinus. 



In colour the two specimens are dissimilar. In both the 

 ears and membranes are, as usual, dusky. Jn the Roumanian 

 bat the upperside is near " Prout's brown," the hairs being 

 tipped with tawny, especially on the lower back ; the under- 

 side is near " Isabella color." The Swiss bat is everywhere 



