NYCTOPHILUS— NYCTERIS. 



37 



be surprised at M. Temminck's decision. " This description is so su- 

 perficial, and the specific characters so loosely established, that it is im- 

 possible to admit this animal into the catalogue of the Rhinolophi." 



IMAGINARY SPECIES. 



1. R. Vulgaris (Horsfield's Java) is regarded by M. Temminckas no- 

 thing more than the female of the R. insignis (See sp. 3.) 



2. R. Deformis of Horsfield, having been described from a very imper- 

 fect specimen, should be altogether removed from the catalogue. 



GENUS XV. NYCTOPHILUS— SOUTH-SEA BATS. 



Syn. Nyctophilus. — Leach, Linn. Trans. XIII. 78 Gray, Mag. Zool. and 



Bot. II. 496. 

 Nyctophile. — Temm. Mon. Mam. X. p. 46.— De Blainv. Ann. de 

 Scien. Nat. 2d. Serie, IX. 360. 



SPECIFIC characters. 



The Dental Formula *[g±§^J-g=J|=S «■ 



The Ears very large, united over the forehead, the tragus lanceolate. 



The Tail not forked. 



The Membranes not so developed as in Nycteris. 



Inhabit the Islands in the Southern Ocean. 



The upper incisors in this genus are long, conical, and pointed ; and, 

 by their position, which is near the canines, and their conical and cu- 

 rious curved form, they have somewhat the appearance of a second pair 

 of canines: the inferior ones are somewhat crowded, ill arranged, broad, 

 and tri-lobed. The canines are so free that they do not interfere with the 

 development of the incisors, as in the Bull-Dog Bats, (Dysopes.) All 

 the molars are tubercular, the lower ones being most conical. This 

 dental apparatus, so far as the incisors and canines are concerned, allies 

 this genus to the Rhinolophi, whilst the molars, by their number and 

 shape, associate it with Nycteris. Hence it is intermediate between 

 these genera. It moreover agrees with the latter in the extraordinary 

 development of the ears, (which are united in front,) as well as in the 

 lanceolate operculum, and nasal follicles. The tail is not terminated by a 

 forked cartilage, and the cutaneous system is less developed, thus ap- 

 proximating them to the true Bats. 



This genus as yet consists but of one species; but the link is well 

 characterized among the Nose-leaf Bats. 



1. NYCTOPHILUS GEOFFROYII GEOFFROY'S SOUTH-SEA 



BAT. 



Syn. Nyctophile Geoffroy Temm. Mon. Mam. II. 47. 



Icon. Temm. Mon. Mam. II. pi. 34. 



SPECIFIC characters. 



The Hair black at the root, brown at the point above, grey beneath. 

 The Ears very large, and joined in front by a transverse band. 

 The Tail not forked at the extremity. 

 Inhabits the South Sea Islands. 



The ears ofthis species are very large, long, rounded at the point, and 

 united in front by a large transversal fold; the internal border extending 

 even to the commissure of the lips. The operculum, half the length of 

 the ear, is broad at its base, and terminated by a rounded leaf. The 

 muzzle is pointed. There are two small transversal leaflets upon the 

 nose; the posterior one is most elevated, contracted in the centre; the 

 other is rudimentary, and in a line parallel to the orifices of the nostrils. 

 The tail is longer than the body, and is not forked at the point. The 

 total length is nearly three inches, and the extreme breadth nearly nine. 



The hair is bi-coloured: above it is black at the root, and deep brown 

 towards the point; beneath the base is black, and the tip pale ash-colour. 

 There are hairs upon the membranes, where they join the sides, and upon 

 the upper part of the sides of the interfemoral. 



GENUS XVI. NYCTERIS CHEEK-POUCHED BATS. 



Syn. Les Nycteres — Cuv. Reg. Anim. I. 119. — Geoff. Ann. Mus. XX. 

 , 11. — Desm. Mam. 



Nycteris, (Nachtflieger.)— Illig. Prodr. 119. — Fisch. Syn. Mam. — 



Gray, Mag. Zool. and Bot. II. 494. 

 Vespertilio, (in part.) — Linn. Gmel. I Schreb. Sau'gth. 



generic characters. 



T.,D„„ lF „»„„„" | |±aLl±| S= |f„3, 



VOL. II. 



The Upper Incisors very small, continuous, and bi-lobed ; The Lower 

 tri-lobed or bi-lobed. 



The Nostrils simple, the cartilage forming a moveable operculum. 



The Chanfrin marked by a deep longitudinal furrow. 



The Interfemoral Membrane longer and wider than the body. 



The Tail long and bifurcated at the tip. 



A Pouch at each side of the mouth, communicating with large mem- 

 branous sacs. 



Inhabit the African Continent, and perhaps Java. 



The chanfrin in this Genus is hollowed out by a longitudinal 

 fossa, which is indicated on the cranium, and bounded by a cutane- 

 ous fold, which partly covers it. The nostrils are simple. There are 

 four incisors above, [generally] without any interval between them, 

 and six below; the ears are large, [often] not united, and the tail is 

 included in the interfemoral membrane. Daubenton has described 

 one under the name of Campagnol volant, and M. Geoffroy has dis- 

 covered others in Egypt. 



The Genus Nycteris, instituted by M. Geoffroy, is distinguished by the 

 following characters. The upper jaw has four incisors, which are bi- 

 lobed, very small, and generally contiguous, then a canine, and four mo- 

 lars on each side ; the six lower incisors are tri-lobed, and, in other par- 

 ticulars, agree with those of the upper jaw: the whole of the incisors are 

 but little worn, owing to the points not meeting or fitting at all accu- 

 rately. The intermaxillary bone is moveable, and always following the 

 motions of the lip, makes the upper jaw appear shorter than the lower. 

 The chanfrin is occupied with a longitudinal and wide groove, formed 

 internally by means of laminse rising from the frontal bone, and uniting at 

 the top ; the outer edges being formed by a fold of skin, well clad with 

 fine hair. The nostrils are situate at the lower part of this fossa, having 

 their orifice habitually closed with a tubercle, like the head of a nail, and 

 which is, in fact, the cartilage of the nostrils. The ears are large, generally 

 longer than the head, and extending far in front, and sometimes even 

 meeting; there is an operculum or tragus which is not very large. Their 

 integuments are more developed than those of the true Bats : the inter- 

 femoral membrane being both broader and longer than their bodies ; their 

 wings also are very ample, but more in breadth than extreme length. 

 The index finger is composed of the metacarpal bone alone, and the 

 others have only two phalanges proceeding from their metacarpals. The 

 tail is composed of seven prolonged vertebrae, and in some of the species 

 the last of them is distinctly bifurcated. 



In addition to those very distinct generic characters, M. Geoffroy de- 

 scribes another very remaikable one, which is not only peculiar to this 

 genus of Bats, but is not to be found in any other of the Mammalia. We 

 shall describe this singular structure on M. Geoffroy 's authority ; at 

 the same time, it would be satisfactory if his observations were con- 

 firmed. According to that ingenious Naturalist, the Nycteri are pos- 

 sessed of certain vesicles, which, like Birds, they have the power of 

 filling, and which, of course, greatly diminishes their specific gravity. He 

 informs us that their skin does not adhere to the parts underneath with 

 its usual closeness, and that the cellular tissue by which it is attached is 

 so loose and extensile that the air can be readily introduced, and easily 

 retained: the only obstacles it encounters being certain bands of aponeu- 

 rosis which occur on the sides ; complete obstructions occurring only 

 around the various apertures of the body. This great sac communicates 

 with the mouth, by two considerable openings, one on each side, like the 

 cheek- pouches of certain monkeys, and by means of these canals tne 

 animal has the power, at will, of filling and emptying these vesicles, there 

 being conspicuous sphincters round the foramina, and also large valves situ- 

 ate upon the back and neck. The quantity of air that these animals can 

 thus introduce is such that, like the fish of the genus Tetrodon, they can 

 assume a shape nearly spherical, and thus become not unlike balloons 

 supplied with great wings, a head, and feet. 



These animals inhabit the warm regions of the Old World, and fre- 

 quent dark and fulsome caverns. 



1. NYCTERIS HISPIDA BEARDED CHEEK-POUCHED BAT. 



Syn. Nycteris Dacbentonii — Geoff. Ann. Mus. XX. 19. — Desm. Mam. 

 No. 191. 

 Vespertilio hispldus. — Linn. Gmel. 



Bearded Bat Perm. Quadr. II. 313. 



Icon. Campagnol volant. — Daubent. Mem. de l'Acad. 1759, pi. 33, fig. 7. 

 Autre Chauve-souris. — Buff. T. X. pi. 20, fig. 1, 2; copied in Schreb. 

 pi. 56. 



specific characters. 

 The Hair reddish-brown above, and whitish beneath. 

 The Ears large, oblong; The Nose-Lkaf very small. 



K 



