412 EMBALLONTJEID^. 



Var. a (Molossus obscurus). 



Molossus obscurus, Geoffroy, Ann. dti Miis. vi. p. 154 (1805) ; G&rxims, 



Exped. du Co?)iie de Castelnau, Zoohgie, p. 58, pi. xii. fig. 5 (skuU) 



(1857); Peters, MB. Akad.Berl. 1865, p. 575 ; Bohson, P. Z. 5.1876, 



p. 710, 

 Molossua longicaudatus, Geoffroy, I. c. 

 Molossus acuticaudatus, Z)esMi. Mammal, p. 116 (1820) (vide Peters, 



I. c. 1869, p. 402). 

 Dysopes velox, Nutt., Temminck, Monog. Mammal, i. p. 2-34 (1827) ; 



Wagner, Suppl. Schreb. Sdugeth. i. p. 476 (1844), v. p. 712 (1855) ; 



Burnieister, Thieve Brasiliens, Th. i. p. 71 (1854). 

 Molossus velox, Gi-ay, Mag. Z)ol. ^ Bot. ii. (1838) p. 501. 

 Molossus fuliginosua, Gray, I. c. 



Molossus tropidorhynchus. Gray, Ann. Sf Mag. Nat. Hist. 1839, p. 5, 

 Dysopes olivaceo-fuscus, Natt, Wagner, Abk. Miinch. Akad. v. p. 202 



(1844) (vide Peters, I. c. 1866, p. 22). 

 Dysopes fumarius, Burmeister, l.c.^. 71. 

 Molossus fumarius, Gosse (non Spix), Nat. Sojourn in Jamaica, p. 292 



(1851) ; Osburn, P. Z. S. 1865, p. 79. 



Quite similar to M. rufus iu structure, but much smaller, the 

 forearm constantly measuring 1"'7 or less, as compared with 2"-l. 

 The fur covering the wing-membrane between the humerus and 

 forearm extends somewhat further outwards, and the upper incisors 

 are closer together. Colour variable, from intense brown to fulvous, 

 rather lighter beneath ; ears and all membranes black. The female 

 does not differ in size or colour from the male (Gosse), but may be at 

 once distinguished by the small size of the gular gland. It will pro- 

 bably be found hereafter, when a sufficiently large number of speci- 

 mens are available for examination, that the above-named differences 

 are unimportant, and that the only real difference consists in size. 



Length (of an adult d ), head and body 2"-7, tail l"-6, head 0"-85, 

 ear 0"-55, tragus 0"-08, forearm l"-65, thumb 0"-3 ; third finger 

 — metacarp. l"-6, 1st. ph. 0"-75, 2nd ph. 0"-6 ; fourth finger — 

 metacarp. 1"'55, 1st ph. 0"'65, 2nd ph. 0"-15 ; fifth finger — 

 metacarp. 0"-95, 1st. ph. 0"-48, 2ud ph. 0"-2; tibia 0"-55, foot 

 0"-4. 



Hub. Tropical America and its islands, apparently generally dis- 

 tributed. Pound in Peru at an elevation of 9000 feet. 



The habits of this variety (which are probably generally similar 

 to those of the larger form of this species) have been observed in 

 Jamaica by Mr. P. H. Gosse and Mr. W. Osburn (vide references in 

 synonymy above). It inhabits the hollow trunks of palms and 

 other trees, and also the roofs of houses. Mr. Gosse remarks that 

 it is more active on the ground than any other species. On the least 

 touch it ran, or rather crawled, about with such agility that it was 

 not easy to seize it. When running it rests on the wrists, elevating 

 the front of the body considerably. The males congregate together. 

 This is probably the case in all species of Bats, the males approach- 

 ing the females during the breeding-season only. Mr. Osburn 

 notices that during the breeding-season the gular glands in the male 

 are humid and swollen, opening on pressure like two lips ; and a very 



