87 



4. VlBPBBTlLIO PbABSONII, Bofflf. 



Lasiurus PearsonH, Ilorsf. Cat. Mnm. Mfaa. E. [nd. Oomp. p 

 1851 ; Blyth, Journ. As. Soc. Bengal, no. 6. 1851, p. 524. 



This is much the Largest Bpecies of the group, and probablj it 

 sufficiently examined would prove to he also the most characteristic 

 1 > 1 1 1 ai present 1 have only bad the opportunity of examining three 

 specimens, all in the state tit' skin ; \i/.. the lype of Dr. Borsfield's 

 description, another in the same collection from Nepal, presented by 

 Mr. Hodgson, and the third in the British Museum, from Amboyna, 

 From these examples the following description has been taken, which 

 will he followed by remarks on their individual differences. 



The top of the head is rather Hat, scarcely so much elevated Bfl in 



/'. murium; the muzzle is also rather broad and obtuse, as in that 



species, and the nostrils have marly the same form and proportion-. 

 The ears arc as broad as thej are high, very much rounded at the 

 end, and with a distinct and evenly-defined notch, $cooped in then 

 external margin. They resemble the same parts in V. emorginatua, 

 but are much broader* in relation to their length, and less deeplj 

 hollowed out externally. As in that species thej are thickly dotted 

 with fine glandular spots. The tragus is narrow, and tapers to an 

 acute point, with a slight outward curvature, and it is furnished 

 with a projecting angular poiut at its outer edge near the base. It 

 is rather more than half the length of the ear. 



The wing-membranes extend to the base of the toes, and the latin 

 are fully two-thirds of the entire length of the foot. The claw- are 

 strong and hooked. The thumb is very long, and its claw also large 

 and hooked, more so relatively than in any of its congeners. Tin- 

 tip of the tail is free from the membrane. 



The upper canines are very short, stout, and conical, with a blunt 

 inner lobe ; the lower ones are also stout and short, as are also the 

 incisors, above and below. 



The upper surface of the interfemoraJ membrane is more or less 

 covered with hair, varying somewhat in different individuals, and 

 the portions of the wing-membranes contiguous to the aides <>t tin 



back are also hairy. Beneath, the membranes an- haii\ only in 

 dose proximity to the ront and lower part of the body. 



In texture the fur is soft, thick, and eottonjf, and rather Ion--, tint 

 on the middle of the back being as much as 5 lines in length. 



On the upper parts the fur is tiicolourcd, a- in the other mem 



bers of the group. That of the back has the base duskj , succeeded 

 i.\ yellowish grej for the greater part of its length, and the remaindei 



rufoUS brown, With the exception of the extreme tips of the bair-. 



which in the type specimens arc paler and shining; the general 

 colour of the fur of the upper parts when undisturbed, being a dull 

 rufous brown, excepting that on the interfemoral membrane, which 

 i- of a somewhat brighter rufous tint, and uniform in colour I 



whole length. 



The general tint of the under parts is palish brown, each nan 

 being reddish brown foi the greater part of Us length, with shining 



