INTRODUCTION. XXV 



left lateral lobea. In Cynonycteris the right central lobe is much 

 larger than the left ; the gall-bladder Hes in the left lateral fissure ; 

 the caudate lobe is not quarter the size of that in Cynopterus, and 

 extends upon scarcely one third of the inner surface of the kidneys. 

 In Harpyia, which externally appears most nearly related to Cyno- 

 pterus, the liver differs remarkably from that of all other genera of 

 Megachiroptera in the slight depth of its fissures : the right and left 

 lateral fissures do not extend halfway to the attached margin, and 

 but slightly exceed in depth the remarkably large notch between the 

 free margins of the central lobes ; the gall-bladder is contained in a 

 concavity in the walls of the right lateral fissure, and its extremity 

 is visible in the centre of the fissure on the convex surface of the 

 liver ; the caudate lobe is represented by a ridge-like prominence, 

 and the right Mteral lobe is considerably larger than the left, its 

 posterior inferior free margin forming a triangular acutely pointed 

 projection. In Epomophorus (E. monstrosus and E. macrocephalus) 

 the central lobes are not divided by a notch behind, the caudate 

 lobe is short and obtuse, and the gaU-bladder lies on the concave 

 surface of the right central lobe. In Eonycteris the right central 

 lobe much exceeds the left, and the gaU-bladder is lodged in a cavity 

 in its outer side which enters the right lateral fissure ; the caudate 

 lobe is represented by a ridge only ; the right lateral lobe is very 

 large, with a deep concavity which contains half the kidney. In 

 Itotopteris (which presents such a very remarkable form of stomach) 

 the liver on the whole resembles that of Eonycteris, but the gall- 

 bladder hangs back freely. 



The form of the liver is generally more uniform in the difierent 

 species of Microchiroptera. It will therefore be sufficient to de- 

 scribe it in one or two characteristic genera in each family. 



In Phyllorhina commersonii the left lateral lobe is equal to half 

 the whole organ in size ; the left central lobe is very small, and 

 bounded behind and to the right by the right central, to the left by 

 the left lateral ; the large gall-bladder is contained in a hollow 

 space between the adjacent edges of the central and left lateral 

 lobes ; the Spigelian lobe is distinct, free, and quadrate, but not 

 large ; caudate lobe very short. In Nycteris the Spigelian lobe is 

 very long and tongue-shaped, filling up the space between the 

 oesophagus and the pyloric extremity of the stomach. In Nycto- 

 philus the Spigelian lobe is also well developed and similar in shape ; 

 the caudate lobe very short ; the gall-bladder lies between the right 

 central and the right lateral lobes. In Miniojpterus the liver is very 



