437 



Order CHEIROPTERA. 



Family Insectivora. 



Genus Vespertilio. 



Dental formula : t ^, c |=1, p g, m ^=38. 



2416. The skeleton of the common Bat (Vespertilio murinus). 



The vertebral formula is : 7 cervical, 12 dorsal, 7 lumbar, 3 sacral, and there are 8 caudal 

 vertebrae, but the end of the tail is imperfect. The chief characteristics of the skeleton in 

 this volant mammal are : the gradual diminution of size of the spinal column from the 

 cervical to the sacral regions : the absence of neural spines : a keeled sternum : long and 

 strong bent clavicles : broad scapulae : elongated humeri : still more elongated and slender 

 radius and metacarpals and phalanges of the four fingers, which are without claws, the thumb 

 being short and provided with a claw : the pelvis small, slender, and open at the pubis : the 

 fibula absent, like the ulna in the fore-arm : and a long and slender styliform appendage to 

 the heel, which helps to sustain the caudo-femoral membrane. 



Presented by W. H. Clift, Esq. 



Genus Pteropus. 

 Dental formula : i g, c i P =3> iEi= 32 - 



2417. The skeleton of a large frugivorous Bat (Pteropus). 



The vertebral formula is : 7 cervical, 14 dorsal, 4 lumbar and 6 sacral. The keel of the 

 large manubrium sterni is produced into a process at each angle ; the three succeeding sternal 

 bones are carinate : seven pairs of ribs directly join the sternum. The clavicles are long, 

 arched, and very powerful. The ulna is slender, and terminates in a point at the lower third 

 of the radius : the olecranon is a detached sesamoid ossicle. The index has a claw as well as 

 the pollex : the ungual phalanx is wanting in the other three digits, in which the second 

 phalanx is long, slender, and terminates in a point. The pelvis is here widely open at the 

 pubis. The fibula is in the form of a slender style ascending from the outer malleolus and 



terminating in a point. 



Presented by Dr. Henderson. 



2418. The skull of a Pteropus. 



The squamosal is perforated by a venous canal which opens below behind the root of the 

 zygoma. The orbit is partly defined behind by long and slender postfrontal processes. The 



lacryrnal is perforated external to the orbit. 



Hunterian. 



