127 



hcrcs closely to it up to the same point, and then starts from it at 

 nearly a right angle, so that the extremity of the limb is completely 

 unencumbered, and appears like a Blender -hank. 



If this peculiarity is persistent, and not due to the state of pre- 

 servation, it would mark out a very distincl and '_'""il species ; lint 

 it i- verv desirable that other specimens be examined that bare been 

 preserved in spirit, in which state they -how these part- in a more 

 natural condition. It is worthy of note, however, that all the .speci- 

 mens present precisely the same appearance: that i-, the leg i- live 

 for the same length, and this would hardly he the case were it due 

 to the state of the preservation merely. On the other hand, the 

 species so closely resembles in all other respect- the M. blepotis, 

 that one may well hesitate and view with su-picion a species having 

 only a single point of difference. 



The following are the dimensions of the specimen in my own col- 

 lection : — 



in. lin. 



Length of the head and body, ahout .... 2 6 



of the head 7 



of the ears .' J ' 



of the tragus 2 



of the fore-arm 1 ti.l or 7 lin. 



of the longest finger 2 11 



of the fourth finger 1 8 



of the tibia 7 



of the tibia, free part 7 



of the foot and claws ... 3j 



Expanse of wings 11 f> 



The other species to which I have alluded bears considerable re- 

 semblance to the one I have called .1/. auatralis. A single specimen 

 in the British Museum, received from the Stockholm Museum with 

 the name of Vesp. scotinus affixed, furnishes all the information I 

 possess respecting it, excepting that it is also labelled " Port Natal." 

 I am not aware that any description has been published. 



The fur of the upper parts is fuliginous-brown, with the tips a 

 little paler and greyer in hue. Beneath similar, but with the tips 

 of the fur paler, especially about the puhes. The general oolooj 

 more nearly resembles the darker examples of M. Schreibersil, which 

 have been described as V. daaythrix, than any other species ; and 

 possibly it may prove to lie a -mall example of that -p 



The examination of a single specimen does not, amongst allied 

 -peeie-, afford sufficient evidence for a satisfactory decision ; and I 

 prefer therefore to leave undecided the claims of the pre s e nt so- 

 called -pecie-, until further information afford more ample D 

 of deciding. 



The following are the dimensions : — 



in. lin. 



Length of the head and body, about .. I in 



of the head 7 



