539 



To these may be added the V. coromandelicus, F. Cuv., one of 

 the smallest Bats known ; and the species I am about to describe 

 must be placed in the same list. 



In size it is one of the smallest, appearing but little larger than 

 the V. coromandelicus ; but on closer examination, is found to be 

 considerably the larger of the two, the slenderness of the bones of 

 the limbs tending to give it an unsubstantial and small appearance. 



The head is somewhat more elevated, and the muzzle rather less 

 obtuse than in S. lobatus or S. coromandelicus ; but the ears and 

 tragi are shaped precisely as in those species : viz. the ears are small 

 and ovoid, with the ends rounded, and with scarcely a perceptible 

 emargination at their outer margin ; and the tragus is short, of nearly 

 uniform breadth, curved inwards, and round at the end. As in the 

 other species of this group, the wing membranes spring from the 

 base of the toes ; and these latter constitute one-half the entire length 

 of the foot. The free portion of the thumb is somewhat longer than 

 that which is enclosed in the membrane. The tip of the tail is free. 

 The bones of the wings and legs are more slender in relation to their 

 length than those of its congeners ; and the tibiae are rather longer 

 relatively. 



The fur does not anywhere encroach on the membranes, either 

 above or beneath, but is strictly confined to the body ; it is of me- 

 dium length, and thick and silky. That of the upper parts is uni- 

 coloured, dark chestnut-brown, without variation of tint on the dif- 

 ferent parts of the body ; beneath bicoloured, dark brown at the 

 base, tipped for a third of its length with reddish-brown, a little 

 paler on the pubes. 



Such is the colour of the specimens from Labuan ; but two others 

 in my own collection, obtained by Mr. "Wallace at Sarawak, have all 

 the upper parts of a dark shining brown, with scarcely a tinge of 

 chestnut ; and the under parts have the fur tipped with greyish-brown 

 instead of rufous. 



The cranium, in its general conformation, closely resembles that 

 of the Pipistrelle, but has the facial portion a little broader. As in 

 that species, there is a rudimentary premolar, immediately behind 

 the upper canine, and placed in a line with the other teeth, so as to 

 be visible from the outside. In S. tralatitius the second premolar is 

 contiguous to the canine, and the first or rudimentary one is placed 

 in the angle formed by the two, and is only seen from tbe inside. 

 But the greatest peculiarity exists in the form and arrangement of 



of Dr. Horsfield. It is in fact a true Vespertilio, bearing a great resemblance to 

 the V. mystacinus of Europe. V. tenuis, according to M. Temminck, is so closely 

 affined to it, as to be with difficulty distinguished from it ; and we are therefore led 

 to believe that this is a true Vespertilio also. The so-called V. imbricatus of 

 Temminck answers well to the true V. tralatitius, and is, I have no doubt, re- 

 ferable to that species. Of the V. imbricatus of Dr. Horsfield I have as yet seen 

 but one example, the type specimen in the Museum at the India House. V. bra- 

 chypterus is most likely the young of V. tralatitius of Horsfield. V. pachypus is 

 probably a good species ; and the same may be said of V. Akolcomuli ; but M. 

 Temminck's description and figures of V. abramus apply so exactly to the Scoto- 

 philus lobatus of Gray, that it will probably have to be quoted as a synonym of 

 the latter species. 



