﻿188 



Transactions. — Zoology. 



considerably in size and even colour ; and the skeleton now before the Society 

 will, it is hoped, facilitate the determination of any future species which may 

 be met with. The skeleton having been prepared from a specimen which had 

 been deviscerated for the purpose of stuffing, prevented my examination of 

 the viscera or ascertaining the sex. The tongue has, however, escaped, and 

 presents a marked distinctive character from that of the Mystacina, being 

 shorter, broader, and almost free from the above-mentioned transverse ridges. 



Upon referring to the measurements annexed to this paper, the chief dif- 

 ferences between the skeletons of the two New Zealand bats, although not 

 very striking, clearly determine a generic distinction. It is interesting to 

 remark that, although the number of vertebrae in all the regions of the spinal 

 column are the same, the proportional length of the tail is peculiar, the excess 

 in the length of that of Scotophilus being made up by the elongation of the 

 bodies of the vertebrae composing it. Again, in the dentition, the total number 

 of the teeth is the same, although the formula ^shows a well-marked generic 

 distinction. 



The number of vertebrae in both is : — 7 cervical, 12 dorsal, 5 lumbar, and 8 

 coccygeal. There are also 12 ribs in both. 



The dentition presents a marked diflference, there being in Mystacina : — • 



s- mcisors 



2 -"-'^'^::i'-" } 2 

 Aiid in Scotophilus : — 



canines ; j- maxillary ; 



- incisors ; - canines ; g maxillary. 



GENERAL DIMENSIONS COMPARED, 



Total length 

 Expanse of wing 



Pectoral extremity- 

 Arm 



Fore-arm , 

 Hand 



Pelvic extremity — 

 Thigh 

 Leg 

 Foot 



ystacina. 



Scotophilus. 



2-8 



.3-5 



12-0 



10-8 



•9 



•9 



1-6 



1-5 



3-1 



2-6 



•6 



•5 



■6 



•6 



•6 



•4 



