686 



MR. G. E. DOBSON ON THE 



[June 7, 



supporting the orifices of the large posterior pair of air-sacs which 

 extend beneath the integument of the sides of the ueck^ 



This pecuhar development of the pharynx, larynx, and hyoid 

 bones is well seen in Epomophorus franqueti. In that species the 

 spacious cavity of the mouth opens into the wide and deep pharynx 

 by a very restricted aperture, the inferior transverse diameter of 

 which is not half the width of the tongue, and scarcely capable of 



Sf/ii/. 



bli.nij. 

 Hyoid bones and muscles of EporrKyphorus franqueti (enlarged). 



h.hy. Basihyal bone with which the long thyrohyals, tk.hy, are ankylosed (the 

 latter are shown diagrammatically, as in nature they are hooked 

 round the thyroid cartilage); cer.hy, ceratohyal bone; ep.hy, epi- 

 hyal bone rotated forwards, showing its outer surface deeply concare 

 for the neck of the posterior pharyngeal sac, and its prominent arti- 

 cular extremity (x) separating and acting as a pulley for the fleshy 

 tendons {my./iy) of the mylo-hyoid and (fiy-ffl) hyo-glossus muscles; 

 to its upper margin is attached the tendon {stjiy) of the stylo-hyoid 

 muscle. 



admitting a hemp-seed, and which can evidently be completely 

 closed by muscular action. In two male specimens the tip of the 

 epiglottis is nearly three quarters of an inch from the fauces. The 

 laryngeal walls are ossified, forming a large projection in the posterior 



^ The writer was unable to embody any part of these remarks in the intro- 

 duction to his work on the Chiroptera (C'atal. Chiropt. Brit, Mus. 1878) owing to 

 the want of specimens ayailable for anatomical examination. Lately, however, 

 chiefly owing to the kindness of Drs. T. W. Wright and J. J. Lamprey, of the 

 Army Medical Department, and Dr. Eobb, of H.M.'s Indian Army, who foi-- 

 warded well-preserved specimens of Epomvphorl from the west and east coasts 

 of Africa, he has succeeded in obtaining most of the material which forms the 

 basis of this paper. 



