7& 



5. Phyllorhina aurita, u. s. 



In size this species about equals Rhinolophus hippocrepis of 

 Europe. 



It may be readily distinguished from all others of the genus by 

 the great size of its ears, and seems to hold the same position amongst 

 the species of Phyllorhina that Rhinolophus cornutus does in the 

 genus Rhinolophus. 



So far as may be learned from the inspection of a specimen in 

 skin, the facial crests greatly resemble those of Ph. bicolor, and the 

 general form of the whole head, face, and ears is pretty much as in 

 that species, excepting that the muzzle is relatively a little more 

 compressed, and the ears much larger. These latter organs are one- 

 fourth longer than the head, and of a broadly ovoid form, are some- 

 what diaphanous, and thickly marked with glandular dots. They 

 have about sixteen transverse sulci, which do not quite extend to 

 the outer margin of the ear, but are bounded by a well-defined line 

 which runs parallel with the margin, and divides off a narrow por- 

 tion, having the appearance of a distinct border. The inner or 

 front margin of the ear has three such parallel lines, all running 

 from that part of the ear which is near to the face, to near the tip. 

 This peculiarity of having the ears margined as described, and the 

 central part sulcated, is not confined to this species ; but it is much 

 more strongly marked in this than in any other which I have seen. 

 Ph. cervina and Ph. caffra exhibit the same arrangement of lines 

 in the ear, but in a much less degree. 



The wings are broad for their length, — the fourth finger, which 

 determines their breadth, being longer than the third*. They are 

 distinctly reticulated, especially near the side of the body. No 

 great peculiarities are exhibited by the posterior extremities. 



The fur is strictly confined to the body, with the exception of 

 some on the hinder surface of the ears, at their base, and a narrow 

 fringe on one of the lines bordering their front margin inside the 

 ear. 



On all the upper parts the fur is bicoloured, nearly white at the 

 base for three-fourths of its length, then of a medium brown colour, 

 with the extreme tips a little paler, giving a slightly hoary appearance. 

 Beneath, it is somewhat similar, but rather paler, especially on the 

 humeral region and down the sides of the body ; but the colours are 

 less clearly made out. On the throat and along the middle of the 

 belly to the pubes it is much lighter in colour, and almost uni- 

 coloured. The membranes are of a medium brown colour. 



The teeth have not been examined with care, but appear to be 



* In Rhinolophus hippocrepis these two fingers are of equal length ; and the 

 same is the case in Ph. caffra. Ph. speoris, Ph. labuanensis, and Ph. cervina -. 

 in Ph. nohilis and Ph. insiynis the third is a little longer than the fourth, whilst 

 in Ph. bicolor and the present species, the fourth is the longer of the two. Of 

 course this difference in the relative lengths of the fingers determines the compa- 

 rative breadfh of the wings. 



