PKEFACE. 



This Volume contains a complete account of all the species of Bats 

 known at present, 400 in number, of which 85 are desiderata in 

 the British Museum. In the year 1843, when the ' List of 

 Mammalia in the Collection of the British Museum ' was published 

 by order of the Trustees, 136 species represented by 418 specimens 

 were contained in the Museum ; 2666 specimens are enumerated in 

 this Catalogue, an increase chiefly due to the indefatigable zeal of 

 the former Keeper of the Department, the late Dr. J. E. Gray, who 

 at various times devoted himself to a systematic study of some of 

 the families. 



The present Catalogue probably contains only a fraction of 

 existing species : but it is hoped that it wUl be a stimulus to 

 collectors and students to pay more attention to this dii&cult and 

 obscure group of animals than has been the case hitherto. 



The Trustees have fortunately secured for the preparation of this 

 Work the services of Mr. George Edward Dobson, M.A., who for 

 many years has made this branch his special study. 



ALBEET GtNTHER, 



Keeper of the Department of Zoology. 



British Museum, 

 May 20th, 1878. 



