CHAP. XVII.] 



MAMMALIA. 



183 



volume was printed) adopts the same family under the name of 

 Nycteridse. The curious Indian genus Rhinopoma, which, follow- 

 ing Dr. J. E. Gray, we have classed in this family, is considered 

 by Mr. Dobson to belong to the Noctilionidse. 



Fossil Hhinolophidce. — Eemains of a species of BhinolopJius 

 still living in England, have been found in Kent's Cavern, near 

 Torquay. 



Family 12.— VESPERTILIONID^. (18 Genera, 200 Species.) 



The small bats constituting the family Vespertilionidse, have 

 no nose-membrane, but an internal earlet or tragus, and often 

 very large ears. They range over almost the whole globe, being 

 apparently only limited by the necessity of procuring insect food. 

 In America they are found as far north as Hudson's Bay and the 

 Columbia river ; and in Europe they approach, if they do not pass 

 the Arctic circle. Such remote islands as the Azores, Bermudas, 

 Fiji Islands, Sandwich Islands, and New Zealand, aU possess 

 species of this group of bats, some of which probably inhabit 

 every island in warm or temperate parts of the globe. 



The genus Taphozous, which, in our Tables of Distribution in 

 vol. i. we have included in this family, is placed by Mr. Dobson 

 in his family Emballonuridse, which is equivalent to our next 

 family, Noctilionidae. 



Fossil Vesjpertilionidce. — Several living European bats of this 

 family — Scotophilus murinus, Plecotus auritus, Vespertilio nociula, 

 and V. pipes trellus — have been found fossil in bone-caves in 

 various parts of Europe. 



Extinct species of Vespertilio have occurred in the Lower 

 Miocene at Mayence, in the Upper Miocene of the South, of 

 France, and in the Upper Eocene of the Paris basin. 



Vol. II.— 13 



