6. vEsruRtTGo. 237 



43. Vesperugo nanas. 



Vespertilio nanus, Peters, Reise nach Mossambique, p. 63 (1852). 

 Vesperugo nanus et puaillulus, Peters, Jorn. Seien. Math.-Phys. Nat. 



Lisboa, 1870, p. 124. 

 Vesperugo (Glischropus) nanus, Dohson, P. Z, S. 1875, p. 472. 



Resembles V. pipistrellus in the general form of the muzzle and 

 in size ; but the ears are much narrower, and their outer margin 

 distinctly angularly emarginate opposite the base of the tragus, ter- 

 minating in a sharply defined, projecting square lobule ; the inner 

 margin is regularly slightly convex from the base to the tip, which 

 is shortly ro\inded oflf ; the upper half of the outer margin distinctly 

 concave. Tragus without triangular lobule or projection at the 

 base, narrowest opposite the base, broadest opposite the upper fifth 

 of the inner margin, the outer margin sloping inwards above to join 

 the inner margin, and form with it a narrow terminal projection 

 curved slightly inwards (Plate XII. fig. 9, head, double natural size). 



Base of the thumb swollen, rounded, the surface marked with deep 

 wrinkles ; the sole of the foot similarly swollen and wrinkled, but 

 flat, or slightly concave as in Tylonycteris pachypus ; toes short, about 

 half the length of the whole foot. Postcalcaneal lobe distinct, 

 rounded, placed on the calcaneum at a distance equal to about three 

 fourths the length of the foot from the end of the tibia. Tail as 

 long as the head and body, the extreme tip projecting. Above dark 

 brown or black, with shining tips ; beneath brown or black at the 

 base, with ashy extremities. 



Upper incisors nearly equal in length, inner incisors bifid at 

 extremities, outer unicuspidate. Lower incisors distinctly trifid, and 

 not crowded. Second upper premolar separated from the canine by 

 a narrow interval, through which the smaU first is visible from 

 without. 



Length, head and body 1"'6, tail 1"*6, head 0"-55, ear 0"-45, tragus 

 0"-22, forearm l"-2, thumb 0"-22, third finger 2"-25, fifth finger 

 l"-65, tibia 0"-5, foot 0"-22. 



Hah. The Ethiopian Eegion. Apparently generally distributed 

 throughout Africa south of the Sahara and Madagascar. 



Previous to the publication of my description of V. tylopus, and 

 additional notes on this species, the only Bat in which similar 

 peculiarities in the structure of the sole of the foot and ball of the 

 thumb had been noticed was V. (Vesperus) pachypus (vide anted, 

 p. 208). The peculiar formation of these parts evidently enables 

 these species to cling to the under surfaces of large leaves and fruits 

 (see my paper " On peculiar Structures in the Feet of certain Species 

 of Mammals &c.," P.Z. S. 1876, pp. 526-534, pi. Iv.). 



a, 6.' d imm., al. West Africa. Mr. Argent's Collection, 



c c? ad , al. Zanzibar. Dr. Kirk [P.l 



ti ad al Mossambique. Dr. Peters's Collection. 



"■ +1 sk. ' ? South Africa. Sir A. Smith [P.]. 



/ad. al. East London, British Lieut. Trevelyan [P.]. 

 ' ' Caffraria. 



