THE EDINBURGH 



JOURNAL OF NATURAL HISTORY, 



AND OF 



THE PHYSICAL SCIENCES. 



OCTOBER, 1837 



ZOOLOGY. 



DESCRIPTION OF TfTE PLATE. — EATS OF THE GEXERA PLECOTDS AND 

 NYCTICEIUS. 



The Bats constitute the first family of the order Carnivora, and are pecuHaily dis- 

 tin<mished by the elongation of their anterior extremities, which are expanded, and, 

 bv the intervention of a dehcate membrane between the fingers, convert-^d into wings. 

 This membrane also includes the hind legs of which, however, the toes are nnt simi- 

 larly developed, and extends to the tail. In consequence of this organization, they 

 are technically named Cheiroptera. These animals live chiefly on insects, are of 

 nocturnal or crepuscular habits, fly with a flutterin.r kind of motion, betake themselves 

 by day to caves, crevices, and retreats of a similar nature, and in cold chmate:^ become 

 torpid during a trreat part of the winter. Some of the larger tropical species are 

 f-ugivorous. They have been arranged under a great number of genera, of which two 

 are represented in the plate. 



The Long-eared Bats, forming the genus riecotns, arc characterized chiefly by 

 the great size of their ears, which are united by a membraneous flap extending across 

 the head. 



Fig. 1, 2, 3. The Common Long-eared Bat (P, auritu^s) is of frequent occur- 

 rence in this country, as well as in various parts of the continent. It i.* easily dis- 

 tinguished by the great size of its ears, which are nearly as long as the body. 



Fig. 4. The Barbastelle (P. Bnrbastellus) is very similar, but has the ears 

 much smaller. 



Fig. 5. The Timor Loxc-EAREn Bat (P. Timoriensis) is about the same size 

 and colour, with the ears intermediate between those of the two former species. The 

 peculiar characters of these animals requiring minute description, will be subsequently 

 given at length. 



A group of Bals, belonging chiefly to North America, and having only two incisors 

 in the upper jaw, with short ears, has been separated under the name of Ni/cticeius. 

 To this genus belong; the following species. 



Fig. 6. The New York Dwarf-eared Bat (iV. Nova-bt^racensis). 



Fig. 7. The Bourcon Bat (iV. BorboJiicuy.) Fiom the Island of Bourbon. 



Fig. 8. The Cayenne or Rough-tailed Bat (N, hsiiirus'). From Cayenne. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATE. THE DOGS, LYCAONS, AND FENNECS. 



Several species of the genus Cauis have already been figured and described, so 

 that it is unnecessary here to present any general character. 



Fig. 1. The Gret ^Volf (Cams Occidentals^ is peculiar to the arctic regions of 

 North America, but differs little from the European Wolf. 



Fig. 2. The Arctic Fox (C. Lagopifs), which, as its name implie?, is a native 

 of the circumpolar region of Europe and America, i'^ of small size, with a very soft 

 and close fur, which in winter becomes white, its summer tint being greyish-brown. 



Fig. 3. The Corsac (C. Corsac) is very similar to the Common Fox in form, 

 but of a duller tint. 



Fig. 4. The Jackal (C. mirevs) is distinguished by its short bu^hy tail. It 

 varies in colour, but is generally of a greyish-brown tint, the limbs reddish exter- 

 nally. Animals apparently of this species are distributed over a great portion of 

 Asia and Africa; they hunt in packs; and from the ease with which they are 

 domesticated, and their form, are supposed by some to be the original of the domes- 

 tic dog. 



Fig. .5. The Cape Jackal (C. Mesomelas) is similar to tlie Jackal, but has 

 the tail long, and as the pupil is elliptical, it is referred to the section of Foxes. 



Fig. 6. Burchel's Lycaon fL. Tricolor) occurs in Southern Africa, and is in a 

 manner intermediate between the Dogs and Hyaenas, having more of the general ap- 

 pearance of the latter. It varies in colour, being yellowish-red, or ochraceous, and 

 marked with white spots cycled with dusky. 



Fig. 7. Bruce's Fennec (Megalotis BnicH). A small group of little animals 

 similar in most respects to the Dugs and Foxes, but especially distinguished by their 

 very large ears, constitute the genus Megalotis. That first described by Bruce is of 

 a light grey colour tinged with brown, and inhabits Nubia, burrowing in the sand. 



Fig. 8. Smith's Fennec (3/. Smithii) is very similar, with the tail more bushy. 



Fig, 9. Laland's Fennec (A/. Lalandii) has the ears much shorter. It is some- 

 what smaller than the Common Fox, and occurs in Southern Africa. 



DESCUIFTTO?; OF THE PLATE, THE HtJirMIXG BIRDS. 



Fig. I. The Topaz-throated Humming Birt) (TrocJiiliis Pella). Adult male. 

 This, although the most common species, is one of the most splendidly coloured, 

 being of a brilliant ruby tint, varying to dusky red, the head velvet black, the throat 

 emera.d green, changing to gold yellow. The male is distinguished, moreover, by 

 two very long dusky feathers in the tail. This species is plentiful in Guiana and 

 the neighbourhood of Cayenne. 



Fig. 2. Represents a variety, in which the body is mottled with white, and which 

 is remarkable in manifestmg a tendoncy-to albinism, in a. family of birds almost ex- 

 empted from that change. 



Fig. 3. F.male. The female wants the long tail-feathers, and is o'' a deep green 

 colour, with the throat yellowish-red. 



Fig. 4. The Violet-eared HuiiMisc Biitn (T. auritus) is so named on account 

 of two tufts of feathers on the sides of the head, of which one is of a violet purple 

 colour, while the other is emerald green. The upper parts are of a gilded green tint, 

 the lower pure white. The middle tail feathers are bluish-black, the rest white. It 

 Is one of the most common species of Guiana and Brazil. 



Fig. 5. The female resembles the male, but differs in wanting the green and purple 

 tufts on the auricular region, and in having the white of the breast and abdomen 

 mi.xed with numerous brown or dusky spots. 



Fig. 6. The Sapphirine Humming Bird (T. snpphirinvs). Female. Green 

 above and on tlie sides, violet purple on the fore part of the neck. Inhabits Brazil. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATE. — THE MACACOS AND MAGOTS. 

 The SIacacos (3/acacwA), as characterized by Cuvier, have molar teeth furnished 

 with a fifth tubercle, like the Sejnnopitfieci, and callosities and cheek-pouches, like 

 the Guenons ; but their limbs are thicker and shorter than those of the former, and 

 their muzzle more prominent, and their superciliary ridge more bulging than those of 

 the latter. Although rather docile in early life, they ultimately become intractable; 

 their tail, which varies m length in the different species, is not orehensile. Most of 

 them are natives of India. 



Fig. I. The Ouanderou {M. Silcruts). Male. This species, which is distin- 

 guished by having the head encircled with a kind of beard of a whitish colour, the 

 forehead black, and the body and limbs of a dusky tint, inhabits the forests of 

 Ceylon, feeding on fruits, leaves, and buds, and refusing to associate with other 

 species. 



Fig. 2. The Chinese-capped Macaco (M, Sinicits) is so named on account 

 of the manner in which the hairs on the upper pai't of the head spread out in all 

 directions. It is yellowish-red on the upper parts, white beneath, and is found in 

 Ceylon and Bengal. 



Fig. 3. The Hare- lipped Macaco (3/. CynomoJgvs)^ distinguishable by an 

 erect tuft of hair on the top of the head, has the upper parts of a greyish hue, 

 the lower whitish, but varies in colour. It inhabits Africa, and is said to commit 

 great havoc on the cultivated fields, which it, attacks in large flocks. 



Fig. 4. The Rhesus (.V. lihesvs) has a very short tail, and is generally of a 

 reddish tint, the fore-parts grey. It is said by Cuvier to inhabit Ceylon. 



Fig. 5. The Pjg-t^iled Macaco (M. netnestrimis) is of a reddish colour, 

 with the lower parts whitish, a dark hne from the head along the back, and a 

 short slender tail somewhat curved like that of a pig. 



The IVLvcots (Inuus) are very similar to the IMacacos, differing chiefly in having 

 the tail reduced to a mere knob. 



Fig. 6. The Barbaky Magot (/. Magoius) is a native of Barbary, and re- 

 markable for being the only species of quadrumanous animal that occurs in any part 

 of Europe, it having been naturalized on the Rock of Gibraltar. It bears our northern 

 climates better than any other species. The colour is generally light-greyish -brown. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATE, — THE HOOI'OES AND PEOMEROPS, 



The genus Upvpa is characterized by a very long, slender, slightly arched bill, 

 triangular at its base, convex above, compressed, without notch, and somewhat blunt ; 

 open, elliptical nostrils ; an even tail, composed of ten feathers ; and wings of 

 moderate length, with the fourth and fifth quills longest. The species are remarkable 

 for the longitudinal crest of elongated feathers with which the head is ornamented. 

 They Hve on insects, are migratory, nestle in hollow trees and fissures of rocks, and 

 moult onlv oni-e in the vear. 



