Cuban Bals. 239 



him in Brasil.* They consist in a robust body ; a tlilck somewhat 

 oblique or wedge-shaped head, terminated by an obtuse muzzle : 

 a double nasal membrane, of which the superior portion is erect 

 and acute, the lower broad and rounded, but less complicated 

 than in Rhinulophus : the gape of the mouth is semicircular; the 

 lips are defined externally by a broad, regular, even margin, which 

 is covered by closely disposed tubercles or warts; internally they 

 are surrounded by a narrow, cirrhated or regularly fimbriated mem- 

 brane, which appears to answer the purpose of a sieve or strainer. 

 The ears are of moderate size but not united ; the interfemoral 

 membrane is short, and deeply excavated : and there is no tail 

 whatever. Dr. Von Spix, as well as M. Fred. Cuvier, (Des Dents 

 des Mammiferes, &c.) separates the Phyllostomes^ thus defined, 

 from the Vampires^ although they agree in many characters. 



The species now under consideration was first described con- 

 cisely by Dr. Leach, with the name of Artibeus Jutnaicensis in the 

 xjiith volume of the Transactions of the Linneau Society, from a 

 specimen sent to him from Jamaica by a correspondent. The 

 character assigned to it by Dr. Leach agrees essentially with that 

 of Plijjllosfoi/ia, which had been previously defined by M. GeofiVoy 

 de Saint Ililaire. I have preserved the specific name given to it by 

 Dr. Leach, and through the kind assistance of Mr. John E. Gray 

 of the British Museum, I have been enabled to compare the spe- 

 cimens sent by Mr. MacLeay from Cuba, with the individual from 

 Jamaica, originally described by Dr. Leach, and to determine 

 their identity. 



The Phyllostoma Jamaicense has a robust body, which is 

 covered both above and underneath with long silky hairs of a very 

 soft texture ; the colour of the body and head above is gray, in- 

 clining to brown, but without any tincture of yellow or red ; 

 underneath it is paler and blueish ; the hairs above are darker at 

 their extremity, so that the fur appears of darker and lighter 

 shades according to the position of the hairs, and underneath it 

 has a silvery gloss on the surface. The wings, the interfemoral 

 membrane, and the nasal appendages are nearly black. The ears 

 are narrow, rounded, and somewhat lengtiiened. The nose is 



• See Zool. Joiirn. II. 125. 



