ALLEN: NOTES ON CHIROPTERA. 51 



separate this species from P. auritus of Europe. According to Dobsou (Cat. 

 Chiroptera Brit. Mus., 1878, p. 179) P. homochrous from Nepal, Himalayas, has 

 thumbs even shorter than those of P. auritus, and is said by Barrett-Hamilton to 

 be a larger animal than P. puck recently described by him from Murree, northern 

 India. I have seen no specimens from eastern continental Asia, but it is possible 

 that they are not to be distinguished from Japanese individuals. 



Miniopterus schreibersii (Natteeer). 



The type locality of this species is Germany, but its range is currently believed 

 to extend eastward to the Pacific Ocean. At least six rather closely related 

 species are described from Africa (i)/. dasythrix, M. fraterculus, M. majori, M. 

 manavi, M. 7iataleiisis, M. inflatiis), but some confusion still exists as to the number 

 of Asiatic forms. In Asia, as in Africa, there appear to be a large and a small spe- 

 cies living side by side throughout at least a large part of the range of the genus. 

 The series of Asiatic specimens in the Museum collection shows that some at 

 least of the various names given to the eastern representatives of the genus should 

 be recognized as applying to valid species. Thomas (Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., 1907, 

 ser. 7, vol. 20, p. 197) has recently described M. schreibersii pallidtis as a pale 

 desert race of the type species, from the south coast of the Caspian Sea, but does 

 not indicate its eastward range. The large form occurring in India may be con- 

 specific with M. schreibersii, to which I have provisionally referred a single adult 

 female. No. 3258, from Calcutta. This bat agrees practically in measurements 

 with those given for German specimens, although I have had no opportunity for 

 direct comparison with bats of this genus from Europe. The Calcutta bat meas- 

 ures : head and body, about 61; tail, 58; ear, 12; forearm, 50; thumb, 6; 

 2d digit, metacarpal, 42; 1st phalanx, 3; 3d digit, metacarpal, 42.5; 1st plia- 

 lanx, 10.5 ; 2d phalanx and tip, 39 ; 4th digit, metacarpal, 40.4 ; 1st phalanx, 

 9.5; 2d phalanx and tip, 18; 5th digit, metacarpal, 37.5; 1st phalanx, 9.5; 

 2d phalanx, 10.3; tibia, 18.5; foot, 10; calcar, 13.5. The skull measures: 

 greatest length, 17; basal length, 14.3; palatal length, 8.1; interorbital con- 

 striction, 4 ; zygomatic breadth, 9.6 ; mastoid breadth, 9.1 ; mandible, 13 ; 

 maxillary tooth row (exclusive of incisors), 6.6 ; mandibular tooth row (ex- 

 clusive of incisors), 7.1- Compared with the skuU of what is here consider-ed 

 M. blepotis from Amboina, that of the Indian specimen is slightly broader, and 

 with the braiucase so inflated antero-laterally as to give it a more nearly circular 

 outline when viewed from above, instead of the distinctly oval shape of the other 

 species. 



To this species is doubtless referable the large specimen recorded by Dobson 

 (Cat. Asiat. Chiropt., 1876, p. 163) as collected at Isagiue, Upper Burmah. Its 

 forearm measurement is given as two inches (51 mm.). 



Should it eventually prove that the Indian Miniopterus is distinct from the 

 European, Hodgson's name, fuliginosus, may apply to it. 



