29 



not so much developed posteriorly as in many others. In the com- 

 mon Noctule, for instance, although the canine presents onlv a mere 

 trace of thickening of the base anteriorly, it nevertheless passes into 

 a small but distinct spur or point behind. The small anomalous 

 premolar alluded to is situated in the same line with the teeth, he- 

 tween which it is placed in such a manner as to be equally visible 

 from within or without. Its form is conical. The next tooth is 

 also regularly conical, and furnished with a broad basal collar or 

 cini/ nl a at ; alter this come the three true molars, presenting the 

 form common to all the VespertUumidtB. 



The dentition of the genus may be given as follows; and as that 

 of all the species is numerically similar, it will render repetition un- 

 necessary. 



Dentition.-In.i?; C.£j P.M.£; M.|2=» 



1. Nyctophilus Geoffroyi, Leach. 



Nyct. Geoffroyi, Leach, Linn. Trans, xiii. p. 7-'!, 1820-22; Less. 

 Man. p. 86, 1827; Fisch. Synop. Mamm. p. 135, 1829; Temm. 

 Mim. ii. j). 47, 1835-41 ; Wagn. Supp. Schreib. i. p. 442, 1840 ; 

 Less. Nouv. Tab. Regn. Anim. p. 33, 1842 ; Schinz. Synop. Mam. i. 

 p. 217, 1844. 



Of the three species treated of in the present monograph, the first, 

 from its size, is unquestionably the one on which Dr. Leach esta- 

 blished the genus. 



The original description in the Linnean Transactions is much too 

 vague to discriminate the exact species with certainty ; but M. Tem- 

 minck having become possessed of the original specimen, and given 

 a more detailed description of it, I am enabled to determine with 

 certainty which of the species here given is the true X. Qeqffroyi. 



I intend, therefore, first to give a description of this specit 8, and 

 then to point out briefly what I consider sufficient differences to 

 constitute three other species. One of these has indeed been re- 

 peatedly described as a VespertiUo — Vesp. Titnoriensis ; but it i> 

 strictly a Nyctophilia, as I have ascertained by the examination of 

 the original specimen in the Paris .Museum. 



The face is moderately hairy, the hairs being pretty regularly 

 scattered, but a little thicker on the upper lips and on the Becond 

 nose-leal' than elsewhere. Immediately over the eve is a small tuft 

 of bristle-like black hairs, and a similar one near the hinder Corner 

 of the eye. At the angle of the mouth a few similar hair- may he 

 observed. The fur of the back extends to a very trifling extent on 

 to the inlci femoral membrane, hut all the other membram - 

 perfectlj naked, and of a dark brown colour, as are also all t lie i.i In r 

 naked parts, with the exception of the tragus and the contiguous 

 parts of the inside of the ear. which arc brownish-yellow. 



The fur of the body 18 rather long, thick, anil very soft. 



On all the upper part- ii is conspicuously bicoloured, black for 

 nearly two-third- of its length, the remainder being olive-brown, "\ 

 which the extreme tips are rather the darker portion. On the mem- 

 brane uniting the ear- the fur is uniform yellowish-brown. 



