EMBALLCXNTJRIDjE. 343 



parallel, the inner concave, the outer convex and without any 



distinct lobule at the base. 



"Wings to the ankles or rather higher. Fur soft, dense, and long. 



Colour in Indian specimens generally dark brown, varying from 

 reddish to blackish brown above, the hairs of the same colour 

 throughout ; below rather paler and greyer, with the basal portion 

 of the fur dark. European and North-African specimens are grey, 

 with the membranes pale and whitish, and similar individuals may 

 be expected to occur in Baluchistan. 



Dimensions. Head and body 2'3 inches, tail 2-3, ear from crown 

 of head 0-25, forearm 1-9. In Burmese specimens the forearm is 

 as much as 2 inches, in Ceylon no more than T75, and in the 

 variety pus'dlus only 1'6. 



Distribution. Throughout Southern Europe, Southern (aud great 

 part of Central) Asia, Africa, Madagascar, and Australia. This 

 species does not appear to be common in India : it has been 

 recorded from Mussoorie in the Himalayas, at 2000 to 7000 feet, 

 also from Nepal, Ceylon, and Upper Burma, and the smaller 

 variety pusillus from Madras and the Andaman and Nicobar 

 Islands. 



Varieties. The small variety just mentioned was at first 

 referred by Dobson to M. australis, a small species with the inter- 

 femoral membrane half covered with hair above, but subsequently 

 regarded as a variety or subspecies of M. schreibersi, a view in 

 which I agree, as the differences do not appear to me specific. 

 There is a little more hair on the interfemoral membrane, but 

 Himalayan specimens show an intermediate phase. 



Habits. The long-winged bat is one of the swiftest fliers in 

 the Order, according to Blasius it almost resembles a swallow in 

 its powerful flight and graceful movements on the wing. It 

 appears early in the evening. During the day it hides in caves, 

 crevices in rocks, and similar retreats, such as old buildings, 

 tombs, &c. Hutton states that he never met with a specimen 

 that was not infested with ticks. 



Family EMBALLONUKID^E. 



No nose-leaf. Ears often united : a tragus present, though it is 

 sometimes very small; it is frequently expanded above. Two 

 phalanges in the middle finger, besides the metacarpal bone, the 

 first phalange folded in repose on the upper surface of the meta- 

 carpal *. Tail partially free, either perforating the iuterfemoral 



* There are some exceptions, but not in India. In Itkinopoma the 

 folding is less complete than in other Indian genera. 



