Mr. R. F. Tomes on the genus Miniopteris. 159 



with its superior size, is sufficient at once to distinguish it from the 

 last species, which it otherwise resembles. The peculiarity pointed 

 out by Mr. Waterhouse of having the nostrils directed sublaterally, 

 whilst in the allied species M. blejwtis they open almost in front, 

 does not, I think, furnish a very valuable character in any of the 

 species which have the glands of the ujiper lips much developed. 

 When these glands are large, they often advance so far forward as to 

 thrust the outer margins of the nostrils forward also, or at any rate 

 to close up the vertical notch already mentioned as separating the 

 lips from the nostrils. This gives the latter the appearance of open- 

 ing directly in front, whereas in the same species when examined in a 

 dry state, when the lips have shrunk and produced a more pointed 

 muzzle and prominent nostrils, the latter are found to open more or 

 less laterally. And as it is not uncommon to meet with different 

 individuals of the same species (in this genus) having these glands 

 developed in a slightly ditferent degree, so it is common to observe 

 a corresponding difference in the nostrils. A good number of 

 examples will alone supply the necessary materials by Avhich to 

 distinguish truthfully the characters of allied species. It remains 

 therefore, as I think, to be proved by the examination of a greater 

 number of examples, that this species differs essentially in what 

 may be called a generic peculiarity from the so-called Jesp. Esch- 

 scholtzii, or that the latter differs from the Vesp. blepotis of M. 

 Temminck. 



I can detect no difference in the distribution or quality of the fur 

 from the species last described. It is unicoloured, and the general 

 colour is very deep brown, as in the Australian specimens of M. 

 blepotis. When seen in spirit, it appears to be sooty black. 



As far as is at present known, this species is confined to the Phi- 

 lippine Islands. 



in. lin. 



Length of the head and body 2 G 



of the tail ' 2 5 



of the head lOi 



of the ears 4 



of the tragus 2f 



of the fore-arm 2 1 



of the longest finger 4 .3 



of the fourth finger 2 .0 



of the thumb 3i 



of the tibia UlO 



of the foot and claws 5^,- 



Expanse of wings 15 6 or 1 6 in.*" 



* It will be observefl, that the dimensions I have given iliffer a little from those 

 given by Mr. \Vaterhouse, both taken from the same specimen. But the differ- 

 ence is very trifling in all respects save in the expanse of the wings, and here a 

 good deal depends upon the measurer. I have usually taken this dimension by 

 means of a thread extended along the bones of the wings to the shoulders, and 

 then taken the breadth between them with a pair of compasses. 



If the expanse be taken in a straight line between the tips of the open wings. 



