﻿142 [No. 2, 



On the Asiatic Species or Molossi. 



Bij G. E. DoBsoN, B. A., M. B., F. L. S. 



(Read May 7tli, 1873.) 



The Molossi are found in all the warmer regions of the earth, but ap- 

 parently exist in greatest abundance in the tropical and sub-tropical parts 

 of America. They have been divided into several genera of which two only 

 have hitherto been discovered in Asia ; of these Nyctinomus is alone repre- 

 sented in the Peninsula of India ; the other genus Chiromeles, containing a 

 single species G. torquatiis, inhabits the Malay Peninsula, Java, Sumatra, 

 Borneo, and probably other islands of the Malay Archipelago. 



Although Nyctinomus has a distribution equalled only by VespertiliOy 

 extending through the warmer parts of the five great continents, a single 

 species only, iVyc^^?^ow^MS^Zic?»^^^5, has been known to exist in the Indian 

 Peninsula. 



Another species of Nyctinomus has been reported from China by Mr. 

 Swinhoe, most probably N. Cesto7iii, Savi, also from Southern Europe. 



The total number of Asiatic species of Molossi known previous to 1873 

 was therefore three, and to these I added in January 1873 a new and most re- 

 markable species, N. Jolior crisis^ which Mr. Wood- Mason's private collector* 

 obtained at Johore in bhe Malay Peninsula, and in this paper I shall de- 

 scribe another new species from India (preserved in the collection in the 

 Indian Museum) which had been confounded with N. 'plicatus. 



Genus Nyctinomus, Geoff. JElars connivent, 



^ .... .2 1-1 2-2 3-8 



Dentition :-m. -; c. ^^^ ; p. m. ^—^, m. g-^. 



a. Ears close together in front, tlieir inner margins having a com^non 

 point of origin on the forehead; tragus expanded and rounded off ahove. 

 (Subgenus, Dinops). 



Nyctinomus Cestonii. 



Binops Cestonii, Savi, Bull, de Sc Nat., VIII, p. 286. 



Dysopes Cestonii, Wagner, Suppl. Screber Saugeth., V, p. 702. 



Nyctinomus insignis, Blyth, Cat. Mamm. Mus. Asiat. Soc. Beng. 



7 Dysopes {Molossus) Ruppelii, Swiuhoe, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1870, p. 619. 

 A specimen in the Indian Museum labelled by Blyth " Nyctinomus 

 insignis, Blyth" sent by Mr. Swinhoe from Amoy, undoubtedly belongs to 

 this species. It is an adult male agreeing in every respect with specimens 

 from Southern Europe, having also the peculiar throat pore concealed by the 

 long hair of the neck. I have no doubt that the specimen obtained also at 



* I have since ascertained that the specimen alluded to by the author was captured 

 by my valued corrcspoudent Mr. James Meldrum of Johore. J. W-M. [Editor]. 



