36 



and on the upper lip is a moustache of softer ones. - The inner sur- 

 faces of the ears are sparingly suffused with very fine short hairs, as 

 are also their outer margins. 



The interfemoral membrane is densely hairy on the whole of its 

 upper surface, and the same peculiarity extends to the upper sur- 

 face of the feet. The fur of the back also extends on to the mem- 

 branes of the wings, over and beyond the tibia, but is there bounded 

 by a well-defined line. It differs in this respect from the fur of the 

 under surface, where it is seen to extend along the membrane be- 

 neath the fore-arm, somewhat irregularly scattered, and having the 

 appearance of yellow down. Towards the wrist it becomes thicker, 

 and is more especially so about the base of the fourth finger. This 

 finger is also seen to be fringed with fine soft hairs at its base, when 

 viewed from above ; and a small patch of hair is visible at the base 

 of the thumb. 



Everywhere the fur is soft in texture, rather long, and tolerably 

 thick. That which extends on to the under surface of the mem- 

 branes, is unicoloured, and of a yellowish buff colour. A narrow 

 stripe of fur, bounding that of the back on each side, is frequently 

 of the same colour. But the colour of the body varies so much, 

 that it appears desirable to give a short description of each of the 

 extreme varieties, observing, at the same time, that every interme- 

 diate state may be met with. 



Var. 1 . Fur of the back of four colours, dark near to the skin, 

 succeeded by yellowish brown, which is again succeeded by pale 

 rust colour, and finally tipped with white. 



Beneath, the fur is nearly similar, excepting that which is con- 

 tiguous to and on the membranes. This is unicoloured and pale 

 buff. 



Hab. North America, " from one end of the country to the 

 other, ecpially numerous " (Le Conte). 



Var. 2. Similar to the last, but with the colour brighter and 

 without the white tips to the fur. 

 Hab. The same as the last. 



Var. 3. Fur of the upper parts nearly black at the base, suc- 

 ceeded by yellowish-buff, passing into bright ferruginous-red, shining 

 and silky. That on the interfemoral membrane uniform bright fer- 

 ruginous. Beneath, the fur is nearly black at its base, passing into 

 dark brown, and tipped with bright rust-colour. The fur on the 

 under surface of the membranes is also of the latter colour. Some- 

 times this variety has the chin and throat of a yellowish- buff co- 

 lour, and then answers well to the description of Nycticejus varius, 

 as given by Poeppig. 



Hab. South America ; Jamaica ; Canada. 



In all these varieties a white spot is observable at the axilla. The 

 membranes appear to be light or dark, according to the depth of 

 the colour of the fur. Frequently the membranes of the wings, 



