271 



The posterior nose-leaf is long, it terminates in an acuminate blunt 

 point between the ears, and its surface is complicated, being crossed 

 by a flat diamond-shaped lamella above and by another lamella below. 



Fig. 82. Head of Rhinolophus lucfus. (From Guide to the Galleries of 

 Mammalia, British Museum.) 



Lower lip divided in the middle by a single deep groove. Wing- 

 membrane greatly developed and attached to the base of the first 

 or outer toe ; interfetnoral membrane large, projecting behind and 

 terminating in a point at the tip of the tail, which does not extend 

 outside the membrane. Fur of body very long and dense, soft and 

 slightly curly. Premolars as in R. coelophyllus. 



Colour of the fur usually jet-black with ashy tips to the hairs, 

 occasionally, it is said, reddish brown. 



Dimensions of a large Himalayan specimen in alcohol : head and 

 body 3-55 inches, tail 2*6, ear from head outside 1-25, forearm 2-95. 

 Specimens from Southern India and Ceylon are rather smaller. 

 The forearm in a series of specimens varies from 2*6 to 3 inches in 

 length. 



Distribution. The Himalayas at moderate elevations, the hill- 

 ranges of Southern India and Ceylon, Burma, the Malay Peninsula 

 and Archipelago, extending to Borneo and the Philippines. This 

 bat appears to be restricted to the highlands of the countries 

 inhabited. 



Habits. Hodgson, in his original description of R. perniger, stated 

 that it was shy, keeping to the forests and never approaching houses 

 or cultivation ; but Hutton, to whom we are indebted for a fuller 

 account of the animal's habits, says that at Mussoorie he had taken 

 specimens " hanging from the roof of an outhouse in which rabbits 

 and firewood were kept, the bat looking, with its ample black wings 

 folded round it as a cloak, somewhat like a large black cocoon." 



Captain Hutton adds : " This fine species commences its flight 

 rather early in the evening, and does not soar high, like the smaller 

 bats in general, but remains below at about twenty or thirty feet 

 from the ground, wheeling with a somewhat heavy and noiseless 

 flight around buildings and large trees in search of small beetles 

 and other insects." ..." This species appears usually to dwell in 

 pairs, and does not associate in communities like some 01 the 

 smaller Khinolophitlaougln, in a large cavern, affording ample 

 room for them to hang apart, several pairs may sometimes be found. 



