THE FAMILIES AND GENERA OP BATS. 



253 



in form, sometimes low and indistinct. Muzzle pad well developed 

 and sharply outlined, its upper margin thickly set with horny points 

 like those on anterior margin of ear ; a line of similar points extends 

 downward across middle of pad between nostrils. Upper lip full and 

 wrinkled, rather thickly sprinkled, as are also the muzzle and chin, 

 with stiffened spoon-hairs, the extremities of which are very slightly 

 expanded. Feet as usual in the family. 



Species examined. — All of the American forms {Nyctinomus and 

 "Nyctinomops "), also N. cegyptiacus Geoffroy, N. africanus Dobson, 

 TV. anchietce Seabra, N. bocagei Seabra, N. brachypterus Peters, N. 

 brunneus Seabra, N. cisturus Thomas, N, lobatus Thomas, N. lories 

 Thomas N. mops (F. Cuvier), 

 N. norfolcensis Gray, N. ther- 

 sites Thomas, N. tragatus Dob- 

 son. 



Remarks. — The genus Nycti- 

 nomus is the most widely dis- 

 tributed group of Molossine 

 bats. Its members also present 

 more variations in form than in 

 perhaps any other genus of the 

 entire order. So great are 

 these differences that it seems 

 probable that the genus must 

 be subdivided into several 

 groups of at least subgenerie 

 rank. For the present, how- 

 ever, I see no better course than 

 tq unite all of the species with 

 2—2 upper premolars under the 

 name Nyctinomus. The Amer- 

 ican forms, as I have already 

 pointed out, fall naturally into two groups, but the distinctions 

 between them become apparently worthless when the Old World spe- 

 cies are considered. Nyctinomus is readily distinguishable from 

 other genera of the family, though the superficial resemblance to 

 some species of Eumops is occasionally deceptive, while that to 

 Chcerephon and Mormopterus is -even more striking. The technical 

 characters are, however, sufficiently distinct. 



Fig. 43. — Nyctinomus macrotis. Jamaica. No. 

 3914, Millek Coll. a about 2J. 



Genus MORMOPTERUS Peters. 



1865. Mormopterus Peters, Monatsber. k. preuss. Akad. Wissensch., Berlin, 



p. 258 (subgenus of 'Nyctinomus). 

 1878. Mormopterus Dobson, Catal. Chiropt Brit. Mus., p. 440 (subgenus of 



Nyctinomus) . 



Type-species. — Nyctinomus jugularis Peters. 



