378 EMBALLONUKIBJB. 



7. TAPHOZOUS. 



Taphozous, Geoffroy, Descript. de VEflypie, ii. p. 126 (1812) ; Tem- 

 niinck, Monvyr. Mammal, ii. p. 277 (excl. Taphozous lepturus, 

 GeofiEr. et Temm.), 1835-41 ; Dubson, P. Z. S. 1875, p. 546 ; 

 id. Monogr. Asiat. Chiropt. p. 106 (1876). 



Muzzle very conical, broad behind, very narrow in front, termi- 

 nated by the slightly projecting inner margins of the valvular 

 nostrils. Crown of the head very slightly raised above the face- 

 line : a deep frontal excavation between the eyes ; ears separate, 

 the inner margin of the conch arising by a short band from the 

 side of the frontal concavity, the outer margin of the conch com- 

 mencing in a small lobe close to the angle of the mouth, but on a 

 lower level ; tragus short, narrowest opposite the base of its inner 

 margin, expanded above ; lower lip as long or slightly longer than 

 the upper lip, terminating in front in two smaU triangular naked 

 spaces separated by a more or less deep groove ; eyes rather large, 

 a distinct horizontal groove on the face beneath ; thumb with a 

 smaU but very acute claw ; first phalanx of middle finger folded (in 

 repose) on dorsum of metacarpal bone ; foot long and slender, the 

 outer toe as long as the middle toe, the inner toe shortest ; tail 

 perforating the interfemoral membrane and appearing on its upper 

 surface, capable of being partially withdrawn. 



Dentition. Inc. ■^, c. i^, pm. |^, m. ~. 



Premaxillaries cartilaginous, supporting a pair of small weak in- 

 cisors, often absent in adult animals ; canines rather close together, 

 much curved forwards, separated from the second premolar by a 

 wide space, in which the first minute premolar scarcely appears 

 above the level of the gum ; second upper premolar exceeding the 

 molars in vertical extent ; last molar consisting of a narrow trans- 

 verse bony lamina ; mesopterygoid fossa very narrow, the pterygoid 

 plates terminating in long hamular processes ; immediately behind, 

 the basisphenoid is deeply excavated on either side of a narrow longi- 

 tudinal bony ridge which connects the roof of the mesopterygoid 

 fossa with the basioccipital, the excavations forming corresj)onding 

 elevations on the floor of the brain-case ; postorbital processes very 

 long, connected by ligament with the zygoma, and thus completely 

 circumscribing the orbit. 



Most of the species of this genus have a peculiar glandular sac 

 placed between the angles of the lower jaw — a sexual character ; 

 for, while always more developed in males than in females, in some 

 species while distinct in the male it is quite absent in the female. 

 The width of the opening of the sac is nearly equal to half the 

 distance between the angles of the jaw ; and the direction of the 

 opening is anterior. This open gular sac is quite absent in both 

 sexes in T. melanopogon, but about its usual position the openings 

 of small pores may be seen, the secretion exuding from which pro- 

 bably causes the hairs in this situation to grow very long, forming 

 the black beard found in many male specimens of this species. 



