7. IAPH0Z0U8. 387 



7. Taphozous nudiventris. 



Taphozous nudiventris, Cretzschmar, in Riipp. Atlas Reise niirdl. 

 Afrika, Sauffeth. p. 70, fig. 27 b (1826) ; Temminck, Monogr. Mam- 

 mal, ii. p. 280 ; War/ner, Siqypl. Schreh. Saugeth. v. p. 684 ; Dobson, 

 P.Z. S. 1875, p. 553; Monoffr. Asiat. Cldr'opt. p. 171 (1876). 



A small gular sac in males, rudimentary in females. Ear-conch 

 papillate along inner margin. Radio-metacarpal pouch very small. 



"Wings from the tibiae above the ankles. 



In front, the fur of the head does not extend upon the face be3rond 

 the frontal depression, and the muzzle is nearly naked ; ear-conch with 

 a few fine hairs only on its inner side ; tragus naked. The fur of 

 the back is limited laterally and posteriorly by a well-defijied line, 

 beyond which the finest hair does not pass ; it does not extend upon 

 the wing-membrane or upon the interfemoral ; and the humerus, 

 forearm, and antebrachial membrane are quite naked ; posteriorly 

 its termination is separated from the point of exit of the tail by a 

 considerable interval, about three quarters of an inch. A few very 

 long hairs, almost as long as in the species of Molossus, arise from 

 the backs of the toes. Beneath, the throat is nearly naked; the 

 wing-membrane is covered as far as a line drawn from the middle 

 of the humerus towards the pubis, and a band of fine hairs extends 

 outwards posterior to the forearm to the carpus ; the lower part of 

 the abdomen, the legs, and the interfemoral membrane are quite 

 naked. 



In this species large collections of fat surrounding the root of the 

 tail and extending between the thighs are found in many specimens, 

 especially in those taken during the hibernating season. This ap- 

 pears to be a provision for sustaining life during the cold season, 

 and would seem to indicate that this is the most northerly species 

 of the genus ; for I have not observed similar deposits of fat in 

 the body of any of the other species, which aU inhabit tropical or 

 subtropical regions. The only other species of Bat in which simi- 

 larly large deposits of fat are found is Bhinopoma microphyllum, 

 which inhabits the same countries. 



Length (of an adult $ ), head and body 3"-7, tail l"-6, ear 0"-85, 

 tragus 0"-25, forearm 2"-95, thumb 0"-45 ; third finger— meta- 

 carp. 2"-55, Isfc ph. 1"-1, 2nd ph. l"-2; fifth finger 2"-8, tibia 

 l"-2, foot 0"-6. 



Hub. Africa (North Africa, Egypt, Nubia, Gambia) ; Asia Minor 

 (Palestine, Euphrates). 



a. 2 ad., al. North Africa. 



b. ad. sk. Gambia. 



c. ad. sk. Africa. 



d A lid al P Africa. Purchased. 



e'-a (J & 2 'ad., al. Palestine. Eev. H. B. Tristram [C.]. 



h-j ad sks. Expedition to the Euphrates, 



k. 2 ad., al. M. Parzudaki [C.]. 



i. ad.8k. . 2c 2 



