260 



BULLETIN 57, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



dense brush below nostrils. Wings, feet, tail, and membranes not 

 peculiar. 



Species examined. — Promo ps nasutus (Spix) and P. fosterl 

 (Thomas). 



Remarks. — This genus is in many respects intermediate between 

 Eumops and Molossus, though nearer the latter. It is at once recog- 

 nizable by the distinctly flattened tragus, the highly domed palate, 



the presence of the rudimen- 

 tary small upper premolar, 

 and of a second lower in- 

 cisor. 



Genus MOLOSSUS 

 Geoff roy. 



1805. Molossus Geoffroy, 

 Ann. Mus. d'Hist. Nat., 

 Paris, VI, p. 153 (rufus). 



1811. Dysopes Iixiger, Prodr. 

 Syst. Jlamm. et Avium, 

 p. 122 (substitute for 

 .Volossus). 



1878. Molossus Doeson, Ca- 

 tal. Chiropt. Brit. Mus.„ 

 p. 407 (part). 



Type-species. — Molossus ru- 

 fus Geoffroy. 



Geographic (list rib tition . — 

 Warmer parts of America, 

 north to central Mexico and 

 Cuba. 



Number of forms. — As 

 now restricted the genus Mo- 

 lossus contains M. rufus, M. 

 obscurus, and the numerous 

 fiuminensis of Lataste may also 



Fig. 



-Molossus rtjfus. 

 ' 1H8S5. 



Sapdcay, Paraguay. 

 X2. 



local forms of these species. The 31. 

 be a member of the same group. 

 Characters. — Dental formula : 



- 2 -. 1 . - -_-_46_« 7 • 1 -1 

 1--. 1.-2-45 6 7*1-1' 



1-1 1-1 3-3 



i -v* in r-ti m 3~-3= 26 - 



the teeth resemble those of 



Except for the absence of pm - and 

 Promops. The form of the upper incisor is, however, very charac 

 teristic, somewhat resembling that of Cheiromeles, the shafts scarcely 

 projecting forward, and so reduced that their height is not equal to 

 the width of the crown through the broad posterior heel. As in 

 Proviops, the upper molars usually show little or no distinct trace 

 of hypocones, the large protocone occupying the entire inner side of 



