•210 Mr. G. Dollman on 



XXI. — Description of a new Genus of MoJossine Bats from 

 West Africa. By GliY Dollman, B.A. 



(Published by permission of the Trustees of the British Museum.) 



Among a collection of West-African mammals recently 

 presented to tlie British Museum by Dr. ?1.Ct. F. Spurrell is 

 a bat representing a new genus of the family Alolossidaj. 



XiPHONYCTERlS, gen. nov. 



Size similar to that of the smaller species of Ni/ctinom>is. 

 Wings small, membranous area much reduced. Ears^ feet, 

 and tail much as in Nyctinomas. 



Skull with median anterior palatal emargination like that 

 of NyctinomiiSy but emargination quite small and incon- 

 spicuous, though extending behind roots of incisors. Teeth 

 according to the following formula: — 



. 1^ 1^ 2-3 3-3_20 



*• i_i> ^' i_i> P- 2— 2» "*• 3-3~ ^^' 



Upper incisors quite small and closely in contact with 

 canines ; widely separated from each other, wider apart at 

 base than at tip. Upper canine rather similar to that of 

 Nyctinomus, but with cingulum very prominent and shaft of 

 tooth longer, much flatter anteriorly, and pointing slightly 

 outwards. Base of canines much enlarged, the anterior edge.s 

 of the cingula on a level with the anterior limit of the upper 

 incisors ; when looked at from above the cingula appear as two 

 prominent crescentic ridges with the minute incisors between 

 them, the incisors being so placed as to resemble two antero- 

 internal cusps on the cingula of the canines. Behind the shaft 

 the cingulum is expanded to form a large flat area, its posterior 

 edge closely in contact with the small anterior premolars. 

 Upper premolars and molars as in JVyctinomus^ the molars 

 with well-developed hypocones. Lower incisors reduced to a 

 single pair of very minute f unctionless teeth, bridged over by 

 the junction of the lower canines ; cutting-edges deeply bifid. 

 Lower canines with well-developed cingula, forming ante- 

 riorly prominent secondary cusps, wiiicli meet together in 

 the mid-line as a bridge over the minute incisors ; posterior 

 portion of cingulum large and well developed, much more so 

 than in the allied genera. Lower molars and premolars as 

 in Nyctmomus. 



Type, Xiphonycteris spurrelli. 



This genus would appear to be most nearly related to the 



