27 



part ; it is rounded, and in some individuals with one or two pro- 

 jecting points. Above this prominence, about the middle of the 

 outer margin, it is slightly hollowed or scooped out, and the inner 

 margin has a corresponding prominent outline immediately opposite 

 to this hollow. The tip is much narrower than anv other part of 

 the tragus, but it is nevertheless quite rounded. Although the 

 general form of the tragus is pretty similar in all the examples I 

 have seen, yet it appears liable to greater variations than is usual in 

 most species of VespertilionuUB. For instance, in some examples 

 the margins, although possessing a somewhat undulating outline, are 

 nevertheless smooth ; whilst in others the whole of the outer our is 

 finely crennlated ; again, the tip is sometimes curved a little inwards, 

 but in others it is quite straight. 



The organs of flight so exactly resemble those of the genus Ves- 

 pertilio, that it is needless to make further remarks on them, except- 

 ing to mention that the wing-membranes spring from the base of the 

 toes. 



All the hinder extremities may be similarly dismissed. 



The cranium in its general appearance resembles that of several 

 species of Vespertilionidce, and so nearly, that it would be easy at 

 first sight to confound them. The Serotine Bat of Europe, the 

 Scotophilia Carolinensis and Vespertilio velatus of America, but more 

 especially a species inhabiting the same country as the Kyctophilus, 

 viz. Vesp. Tasmaniensis, may be cited as species, the crania of which 

 are most like that of Nyctophilia. 



The cerebral portion is but little elevated above the facial pint ion, 

 and it rounds off but very little from the vertex to the occiput, above 

 the foramen of which is a moderately developed occipital crest, vary- 

 ing considerably in different species. There is the same (hep notch 

 in the anterior part of the skull which is observable in Vespertilio 

 and Scotophilia, caused by the imperfect development of the inter- 

 maxillary bones. Immediately above this notch is a rather broad 

 but shallow depression, occupying the position of the nasal bones. 

 It is as deep from side to side as from before to behind ; but there 

 is one point where it runs a little deeper than elsewhere, just a! the 

 hinder ends o£ the nasal bones. Precisely the same kind of depres- 

 sion occurs in the cranium of the Barbastclle Bat. I5ut in Nyeto- 

 philus the depression is rendered more conspicuous by the somewhat 

 more % elevated position of the malar processes. 



The zygomatic arches are not very much arched outward-, less so 

 than in many species of Vespertilio, such as V. Nattereri, but quite 

 as much so as in Plecotus. The orbits extend rather markedly for- 

 ward, in one species almost to the root of the canine tooth, whilst 

 the palatal portion of the maxillary bones reaches as far hack a< 

 usual, so as to give a somewhat greater extent of floor to the orbit 

 than usual. The bouv palate extends backwards almost to the con- 

 dyloid fossa; but its hinder margin is so much scooped on( thai its 



middle does not much exceed the middle of the zygomatic arch, in 



a backward direction. In this respect it resembles the same part in 

 Plecotus ; in Barbastellus, Vespertilio, and SeotopkUus it is doubly 

 emarginate. 



