258 MESSRS. O. THOMAS AND H. SCHWANN ON [^-pV. 18, 



combined length of the large upper premolar and two molars is 

 3 "4 mm. 



Secondly, the name V. mimittis Temminck (1835-41) is ante- 

 dated by Montagu* (1808) for a Lesser Horseshoe Bat, and is 

 therefore untenable for any member of the j)resent group. 



Next, Vesperugo subtilis Sundevall, placed by Dobson (with a 

 query) in the synonymy of " V. minuUos" is really a Fi2nstreUus, 

 as we have found by the examination of the skull of the type, 

 most kindly lent to us by Dr. Einar Lonnberg. It is, however, 

 not P. nanus, as might have been expected, but a species with 

 incis(n's and premolars as in P. kuhlii, to which, although much 

 smaller, it would seem to be allied. Although degenerated b)^ 

 chemicals, the large upper premolar and first two molars may be 

 measured as 2*4 mm., and the lower tooth-row (exclusive of 

 ir.cisors) as 4*0 mm. The species does not appear to have been 

 rediscovered since Wahlberg's time. 



ISText, Yesjoeritgo smithii Wagner, based on Ves2)ertilio minntus 

 Smith, of the 'Illustrations' (1848), placed by Dobson under 

 V. capensis, must be a different Bat altogether, as it is said to have 

 a forearm no less than 42 mm. in length. 



Lastly, the Madagascar specimens referred by Dobson (and 

 Peters, whose writing is on some of them) to ^^ Vesperugo minutiis" 

 represent, as might have been expected, a species conspicuously 

 different from its Cape ally. It may be called 



Yespertilio mateoka t, sp. n. 



Size about as in V, capensis, though the skull is shorter. 

 General colour above uniform rich brown, the type matching 

 " vandyke-brown " of Ridgw^ay, widely different from the greyish 

 brown of F, capensis. Underside between "raw imaber" and 

 " mummy-brow^n," rather lighter on the lower abdomen. Ears 

 rather smaller than in F. capensis and antitragal notch deepei-. 

 Other external characters apparently as in that species. 



Skull shorter, more rounded, and with a less flattened brain- 

 case than in F. capensis. Molars rounded, not so broad trans- 

 versely. Canines smaller and slenderer, the difference especially 

 mai"ked in the lower jaw. Anterior lower premolar only about 

 half the transverse diameter of the posterior one. 



Dimensions of the type : — 



Forearm 33 "5 mm. ; third finger 57. 



[Head and body (of a sj)irit-siDecimen with forearm 32 mm.) 

 43'5 ; head 15*5; tail 29-5; ear 11*3; tragus on inner edge 4 ; 

 lower leg and foot (c. u.) 19.] 



Skull —greatest length 13*5; basal length in middle line 10; 

 mastoid breadth 7*7 ; combined length of large upper pi'emolar 

 and two molars 3'2 ; front of lower canine to back of m, 5. 



Rab. Madagascar. Type from Ambositra, Betsileo. Altitude 



about 1100 m. 



* Trans. Linn. Soc. ix. p. 163. 

 t Malagasj' for "dark brown." 



