CHEIROMELES TORQUATUS. 



and thus constitutes a perfect hand. The metatarsus, in Cheiromeles, is broader than 

 in other VespertiUonidas. The metatarsal bone, supporting the thumb, is very 

 robust ; it is somewhat swelled at both extremities ; at the point of articulation its 

 situation is in a small degree oblique, so that the thumb at the base has a natural 

 disposition to diverge from the fingers. The first phalanx is of great dimensions ; 

 in our specimen its sides are angular, and it has double the size of the fingers. 

 The second and third phalanges are very minute, and cannot be distinguished 

 separately. The nail is long, broad, perfectly even before, somewhat concave behind, 

 and slightly rounded exteriorly at the extremity. It is proportionally longer than the 

 nail in Monkies, but it has the true character of the Unguis lamnaris, resembling 

 in its structure the elongated nail of the Prosimii and Macrotarsi of lUiger. A very 

 slio-ht convexity exists in the anterior surface of the nail, and the posterior is pro- 

 portionally concave ; at the insertion of the nail the thumb is distended, and the 

 sides are somewhat flat. Together with the structure and position of the thumb, 

 a very peculiar character is afforded to the Cheiromeles by an appendage or brush, 

 consisting of bristly hairs, directed to one side, and forming a regular series along 

 the outer margin of the thumb. At the extremity the hairs are long, and spread as 

 a fan over the nail ; they gradually decrease in length as they approach the base, 

 preserving throughout the same direction. The separate hairs are rigid, thicker at 

 the base, then gradually attenuated, and terminated by a hook. To this singular 

 character I have observed an analogous structure in Nyctinomus, by which it is in 

 some measure illustrated. It is doubtless of importance in the economy of the animal, 

 but its use remains to be determined. This character must not be confounded with 

 the long, solitary, b^stly hairs which, in Cheiromeles as well as in Nyctinomus, are 

 loosely scattered over the fingers, and particularly over the extremity, near the 

 insertion of the claws. The other fingers , are compressed, disposed in the same 

 direction, nearly of equal length, and armed with strongly compressed claws, agree- 

 ing essentially with those of other animals of this family. The skin which covers 

 the base of the fingers is lax, and constitutes a short membrane between them. 



The neck of the Cheiromeles torquatus is short and thick ; the body large, ovate, 

 broad between the shoulders, then gradually contracted, and obtusely terminated. 

 The interfemoral membrane is short, transversely distended between the thighs, and 

 obtuse, with a slight curve on each side of the tail. Its texture is thick and rugose, 

 and it is, to appearance, plentifully supplied with muscular fibres. In this character 

 Cheiromeles resembles Nyctinomus more than other animals of this family : in its 

 termination, expansion, and rugosity, the interfemoral membrane of Cheiromeles 



