Mr. R. F. Tomes on tJie genus Miniopteris. 161 



the Mammalia of the British Museum,' as having been received from 

 the Leyden Museum, its country being Timor. It is probable 

 therefore, that this may have been mistaken by iM. Temminck for 

 the female of that species. Be this as it may, the specimen in 

 question is certainly a viale, and the perfectly ossified condition of 

 the wing-jomts indicates that it is adult. 



The name under which I have described this species was given 

 under the impression that it was exclusively a native of Australia 

 It was not until after I had arranged and named the specimens in 

 the British Museum and in some other collections, that I found it 

 to be an inhabitant of Timor (and probably of other islands of the 

 Indian Archipelago) as well as of Australia, and that the name of 

 mistrahsvi&^ not strictly appropriate. But to avoid the confusion 

 which might possibly arise from a change of name, I have thou-ht 

 It desirable that it should remain unaltered. ° 



Of the two following species I am unable to give as complete an 

 account as I could wish. 



The first is exhibited in the Leyden Museum with the name of Vesp 

 tibialis affixed, but I am not aware that any description of it has 

 appeared. In that collection there are four specimens, all from 

 Amboyna. A single specimen in my own collection, received also 

 from Amboyna by MM. Verreaux, although in a somewhat muti- 

 lated condition, will nevertheless furnish a sufficiently complete de- 

 scnption by which to recognize the species, if species it really is 



In general appearance it closely resembles M. bhopfis, but is a 

 trifle smaller, and moreover appears to differ remarkably in all the 

 specimens, in having the extremity of the tibia perfectly free for 

 nearly a third of its length. The wing-membranes do not extend 

 beyond two-thirds of the length of the tibia, and the os calcis ad- 

 heres closely to it up to the same point, and then starts from it at 

 nearly a right angle, so that tbe extremity of the limb is completely 

 unencumbered, and appears like a slender shank. 



If this peculiarity is persistent, and not due to the state of pre- 

 servation, it would mark out a very distinct and good species ; but 

 It IS very desirable that other specimens be examined that have been 

 preserved in spirit, in which state they show these parts in a more 

 natural condition. It is worthy of note, however, that all the speci- 

 mens present precisely the same appearance ; that is, the leg is free 

 for the same length, and this would hardly be the case were it due 

 to the state of the preservation merely. On the other hand, the 

 species so closely resembles in all other respects the 3/. blepotis, 

 that one may well hesitate and view with suspicion a species having 

 only a single point of difference. 



The following are the dimensions of the specimen in my own col- 

 lection : — 



in. lin. 



Length of the head and body, about .... 2 G 



of the head 7 



of the ears 3i^ 



