7. TAPHOZOUS. 379 



In the greater number of species, also, a small band of integu- 

 ment passes from the uiferior surface of the forearm near its distal 

 extremity to the proximal extremity of the fifth metacarpal bone, 

 forming with the wing-membrane a small pouch — the radio-meta- 

 carpal pouch. 



Range. Ethiopian, Oriental, and Australian Regions. One spe- 

 cies extends into Egypt and Palestine, and none have as , yet been 

 found eastward of New Guinea or Australia. 



Synopsis of Subgenera and Species. 



I. Radio-metacarpal pouch distinct ; lower lip 



scarcely grooved Subg. Taphozous. 



a. Radio-metacarpal pouch well developed. 



a'. No gular sac in male or female. 



a". Fur of the back extending upon 



part of the wing- and interfemoral 



membranes ; extremity of tail 



thickened ; forearm 2"-5 I. T. melanopogon, p. 380. 



6''. Fur of the back very narrow across 

 loins, not extending upon the 

 membranes ; extremity ot tail not 



thickened ; forearm 3" 2. T. theohaldi, p. 381. 



h'. Gular sac present in males, rudi- 

 mentary or absent in females, 

 c". Gular sac quite absent in females, 

 throat hairy beneath. 

 a'"- Ears as long or longer than the 



head ; forearm 2"7 3. 7". australis, p. 382. 



V". Ears shorter than the head ; 



forearm 2"-4 4. T. perforatus, p. 383. 



d" Gular sac rudimentary in females, 

 throat naked beneath. 

 r"'. Fur brown above and beneath ; 



forearm 2"'45 5. T, longimanus, p. 384. 



d'". Fur brown above and beneath- 

 neck ; chest and abdomen pure 



white ; forearm 2"-4 6. T. mauritianus, p. 386. 



h. Eadio-metacarpal pouch small ; fur very 

 short, not extending to membranes; 

 forearm 2"-95 7. T. nudiventris, p. 387. 



II. No radio-metacai-pal pouch ; lower Up di- 

 vided in the centre of its upper surface 



and in front by a deep narrow gToove . . Subg. Taphonycieris. 



a Ears broadly rounded off above ; inner 



margin smooth, slightly convex above ; 



forearm three inches or less. 



a' Gular sac developed (but smaller) m 



female also; fur dark brown above 



and beneath • • 8. T. saccoUBmw, p. 388. 



h' Gular sac rudimentary m female, the 

 margins alone developed; fur brown 

 above, pure white beneath . . . . . . 9. T. affims, p. 380. 



h Ears triangular, narrowly rounded off 

 above; inner margin papillate; forearm 

 three and a half inches at least 10. T. pelt, p. 390. 



