115 



axis of the tube, and covered with a more or less thick mat of smaller 

 ipienla. In this genu the mass of the sponge ii formed of small 

 spicule, which inosculate and are united together, forming a rather 



hard mass pierced with numerous closed, small, uniform hi xangular 



pores, lined internally with a thin layer formed of elongate fusiform 

 spicula placed parallel in bungle in a more or less longitudinal 



direction round the inner mouth of the pores. 



The main tube i> smaller at the base, gradually enlarges upward, 

 and is then Bubcylindrical and irregular on the surface. 



When examined externally, eight or ten longitudinal ridges are 

 observed, between which are placed a more or less regular series of 

 Unequal-sized squarish concavities ; at the lower edge of each is to 

 be observed a large round oscule, commencing with the outer sur- 

 face. 



ApHROCALLISTES BEATRIX. (PI. XI.) 



Hub. Malacca. 



We have in the British Museum an imperfect specimen of Euptec- 

 tella, which was brought home by Capt. Sir Edward Belcher at the 

 same time as the above. 



March 9, 1858. 



Dr. Gray, F.R.S., V.P., in the Chair. 

 The following papers were read : — 



1. A Monograph of the gents Miniopteris. 

 By Robert F. Tom is. 



(Mammalia, PI. LXV.) 



Perhaps there is no order of Mammalia in which there is so great 

 a diversity in the forms of the different species as in the Cheiroptera. 

 On examining the genus VeaperHUo in the extended form in which 

 it 1- given by M. Temminck, and more recently by M. Wagner, the 

 naturalist will find an assemblage of creatures which he will have 

 great difficulty in making out to bis satisfaction. Bui in endeavour* 



mg to separate them into groups or genera for the purpose of de- 

 scription, lie will be equally puzzled. An examination of the British 

 species merer/, will illustrate the nature of the difficulty to which I 



refer. Take, in the tir-t place, the common ffottuU lint, and the 



equally common Whiskered lint, the one exhibiting s beavj mus* 

 cular body, and strong wings capable of rigorous and sustained 



flight, and with jaw- and teeth of -uthciiiit -i/e ami power to m:i-ti- 



