h; 



1866.] DR. J. E. GRAY ON THE GENUS AELLO. 



racters by which the species of Mammals may be distinguished, and 

 called particular attention to the structure of the hair as shown 

 under the microscope, and the form of the dung, as likely to lead to 

 results available in classification. 



Mr. H. B. Tristram, C.M.Z.S., gave a notice of the recent cap- 

 ture of Gymnetrus banksii, the Great Ribbonfish, off the coast of 

 Durham. The specimen was about 16 feet long, and was the ninth 

 instance on record of this fish having occurred on the British coasts 

 since the year 1/00. 



The following papers were read : — 



1. Notice of the Examination of the Type Specimen of Aello 

 cuvieri of Leach. By Dr. J. E. Gray, F.R.S., V.P.Z.S., 

 F.L.S., &c. 



Dr. Leach, in the thirteenth volume of the ' Transactions of the 

 Linnean Society,' has described several genera of Leafless Bats, espe- 

 cially one under the name of Aello, from a specimen in the Museum 

 of Joshua Brookes, of Blenheim Street, Oxford Street. This speci- 

 men was sold at his sale, and purchased by Professor Dr. Edmund 

 Grant of University College, London. I have more than once sought 

 for it in that collection without having been able to discover it, and 

 I believe that Mr. Tomes was equally unsuccessful. 



The genus has not been recognized by the characters given by Dr. 

 Leach, though they are full and particular, and consequently has 

 been one of the puzzles to the students of these animals. It has been 

 conjectured to have been described from a specimen of a Bat in which 

 the tail had been partially withdrawn. 



Wishing to verify the previous determination that Leach's genus 

 Celreno was only a synonym of Noctilio, I requested Dr. Grant to 

 allow me to see the specimens under his care ; and he most kindly 

 acceded to my request, and said he would put the Bats out on a tabk 

 that I might examine them whenever I called. I availed myself of 

 his kinduess accordingly, and went directly to see them. I was much 

 pleased, not only to find Celceno brookesii (which is certainly Noc- 

 tilio americanus), but also the long lost Aello cuvieri ; and there could 

 not be a doubt for a moment that the latter was a species of my 

 genus Chilonycteris, which Gundlach has also described under the 

 • name of Lobostoma ; so that these generic names must give way to 

 the more ancient one of Aello of my earlier teacher and friend. 



The specimen is in a moderately good state, considering that it 

 has been preserved dry, as it was expanded when it was taken out of 

 spirits. The crest over the nostrils, and the end of the nose and 

 chin, are contracted. The skin in front of the chin and on one side 

 of the face have been cut off in order to examine the teeth. This 

 explains why the ridges of the chin and the peculiar form of the 

 nose, so characteristic of the genus, were uot described by Dr. Leach. 



