1835.] Synopsis of the Vespertilionida of Nipal. 699 



VIII. — Synopsis of the Vespertilionida of Nipal. ByB. H.Hodgson, 

 Esq. Resident at Katmandu. 



I have the pleasure to forward to you herewith the names and 

 characters, which I have provisionally affixed to the Vespertilionidee 

 of the central region of Nipal. "Without access to large museums 

 and libraries, it is scarcely necessary to observe that the naming and 

 defining of species can be but very imperfectly performed. 



Rhinolphus. 



* Prosthem. memb. sup. transversa, adpressa. Sinu frontali. 



Rh. armiger, mihi. Bright brown, with darker membranes. Fron- 

 tal sinus round, and furnished with a pencil of hairs. Nasal append- 

 age very large quadrate, adpressed, skinny in the lower part, fleshy 

 in the upper, shaped like a coat of arms, with double field ; the superior 

 and inferior fields separated by two parallel, subtrilobate ridges, 

 whereof the upper is fleshy like the proximate field. The lips with 

 a triple fold of skin on each side. The antitragus vaguely developed, 

 and wavily emarginated. Snout to rump, 4^ inches ; tail 2^ ; expanse, 

 22 ; weight 3 oz. Females and young males, of a duller, deeper-toned 

 brown. 



* Prosthem. memb. sup. erecta. haud sinu frontali. 



Rhinolphus tragatus, mihi. Uniform deep brown, with the lips 

 paler and rusty. Of the nasal appendage, the upper salient process 

 is like a burred spear-head ($), and the lower like a raised door- 

 knocker. Antitragus considerably developed, so as to form a semi- 

 circular mockf oreillon, whence the trivial name. Lips simple, 2| 

 inches in length ; the tail 1| ; expanse, 15 \ ; weight 2 oz. 



Remarks. — Both the above species have the pubic teats strikingly 

 developed. In form they are just the same as the true or pectoral 

 teats, and in size, even larger than the latter. At their bases is a 

 distinct indication of a gland, under the outer coat of the animals. 

 The ears of both species are ' tremblingly alive all over,' and capable 

 of considerable movement and compression, whence perhaps the 

 transverse striae or rays by which they are distinguished. In both 

 species, there is some appearance of tragal and an titragal development. 

 In tragatus (recte anti-tragatus), the latter is prominent. These animals 

 have manners nearly similar to those of the true Vespertilios. So 

 soon as it is dark, they come forth from the cavities of rocks, in 

 groups, to skim the surface of standing crops, or to glide around and 

 between umbrageous trees, in search of nocturnal insects, which 



+ N. B. — The true oreillon, peculiar to Vespertilio, is an enlargement of the 

 tragus. 



