270 On a neio Glossophagine Bat from Colombia. 



It has been suggested tliat some Mallophaga, such as 

 Tetrophtalmus titan (P.)? which is found firmly attached to 

 the skin of the pelican's pouch, live on blood. This, if 

 authenticated, is interesting when it is remembered that the 

 Anoplura, true blood-sucking parasites, are, perhaps, in their 

 descent Mallophaga which have taken to sucking blood. 



A transition from hair- and feather-feeding to gnawing at 

 the epidermis of the skin is easily conceived, when, as soon 

 as blood is extravasated, it can be easily imagined how a 

 further change in feeding-habits came about. 



It is a pity that more is not known of the bionomics and 

 feeding-habits of the Mallophaga. 



XXXI. — A new Genus of Glossophagine Bat from Colombia. 

 By Oldfield Thomas. 



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



LlONYCTERIS, g. n. 



Allied to Lonchophylla, but the premolars without the 

 characteristic Glossophagine elongation. 



Interfemoral membrane well developed ; tail reaching half- 

 way to the back of the membrane. 



Skull in general shape as in Glossophaga, the rostrum 

 much shorter than in Lonchophylla. Zygomata imperfect. 

 Palate extremely concave, domed, more so even than in 

 Lonchophylla, its shape posteriorly much as in the latter 

 genus, though it is less elongate. Basisphenoid pits present. 



Dental formula I. |, C.\, PM. §. M.J X 2 = 34, as in 

 Glossophaga and Lonchophylla. 



Upper teeth. Incisors disproportionate in size, as in 

 Lonchophylla, the inner pair conspicuously longer than the 

 outer, spatulate. Canines like those of Lonchophylla, but 

 shorter. Premolars not narrowed and elongated horizontally, 

 but more like those of ordinary Vampyri, the anterior one 

 some little way from the canine, slender, pointed, unicuspid, 

 its height greater than its horizontal diameter ; posterior 

 premolar triangular, pointed, with a small internal basal lobe 

 and inconspicuous posterior basal cusp. Molars about as in 

 Glossophaga, m 6 less extended transversely. 



Lotver teeth. Incisors well developed, subequal, tricuspid. 

 Canines rather weak. Premolars evenly increasing in size 



