1. EPOMOPHOEtTS. 



9 



centre ; tail very short and feeble, quite free from the interfemoral 

 membrane, and concealed by the surrounding fur. 



Above yellowish brown, with a slightly greyish tinge; paler 

 beneath ; the abdomen pale yellowish white ; a tuft of white hairs 

 along the lower third of the outer and inner margins of the ear. 



Fur short, extending upon the humerus and fleshy part of the 

 forearm and upon the adjoining wing-membrane, but the ante- 

 brachial membrane is nearly naked ; the greater part of the inter- 

 femoral is covered with short fur, which also extends along the legs 

 to the back of the feet, and short hairs are thinly spread over a 

 large part of the wing-membrane between the humerus and the leg. 

 Roof of the mouth much vaulted, especially posteriorly, with six 

 very prominent palate-ridges, which are characteristic of the species : 

 the first is straight, and is placed across the palate slightly behind 

 the canines ; the second is slightly arched forwards, and corresponds 

 to the first upper premolar ; the third is close to the second, is more 

 arched, and commences opposite the second premolar, or opposite 

 the si>ace between the first and second ; the fourth is separated by a 

 greater interval, and corresponds to the molar teeth, though it does 

 not extend as far as their bases laterally ; the fifth is placed at a 

 stUl greater distance behind, and is very peculiarly shaped, being 

 rhomboidal, hollowed out in the centre, and divided into two lateral 

 triangular halves by a narrow groove : the sixth ridge is simple, 

 divided in the centre, and placed at an equal distance behind 

 (Plate II. fig. 2). 



The head is much shorter in females, which are also slightly 

 smaller than the males in most measurements. In young males the 

 head is also longer than in young females of the same age, though 

 not in so marked a degree. In the following Table of comparative 

 measurements these differences are shown : — 



Hah. West Africa (Gambia, Guinea, Lagos). ■ 



