148 



CHIROPTBEA 



first phalanx slightly more than half as long as second ; large 

 upper premolar separated from canine by a noticeable space 

 occupied by the well developed small premolar, which lies per- 

 fectly in the tooth-row. 



External characters. — A much smaller, more delicately formed 

 animal than Bhinolophus ferrum-equinum. General outline of 

 noseleaf narrower than in B. ferrum-equinum, the width of horse- 

 shoe less than distance from flat area at base of sella to tip of 

 lancet ; sella narrowly rounded at tip, the sides straight, slightly 

 convergent above, the resulting outline bluntly cuneate ; connect- 

 ing process essentially as in the larger species but relatively 

 wider and lower, its upper extremity about on level with that of 

 sella ; lancet slender, scarcely or not contracted at middle, the 

 tip cuneate. Ear when laid forward extending about 5 mm. 

 beyond extremity of muzzle, the narrow tip abruptly curved 

 backward ; antitragal lobe more than half as high as conch, its 

 width less than its height, its upper margin noticeably oblique. 

 Wings and feet essentially as in B. ferrum-equinum. 



Colour. — The colour does not differ appreciably from that of 

 Bhinoloplius ferrum-equinum. 



Skull. — The skull differs from that of Bhinoloplius ferrum- 

 equinum chiefly in its conspicuously smaller size (greatest length 

 about 16 mm. instead of about 24 mm.). There are also some 

 slight peculiarities in form, the principal of which is the greater 

 contrast between width of brain-case and anterior maxillary 

 region, the breadth of former being about twice that of latter. 

 As the breadth of brain-case is contained distinctly less than 

 2|- times in greatest length it is probable that the difference 

 between the two animals is due rather to enlarged brain-case in 

 the smaller than to widened palate in the larger. Sagittal crest 

 slightly developed ; lambdoid crest obsolete. Nasal region 

 relatively more inflated than in B. ferrum-equinum, particularly 

 at side of nares, but dorsal outline not rising abruptly above 

 level of interorbital region. Mesopterygoid fossa so conspicu- 

 ously widened anteriorly that it occupies almost entire extent of 

 palate between posterior molars, leaving no space for lateral 

 palatal emarginations, a peculiarity by which the skull may be 

 distinguished from that of all other European members of the 

 genus. 



Teeth. — Though in genera] resembling those of Bhinoloplius 

 ferrum-equinum, apart from their much smaller size, the teeth of 

 B. hipposideros show several notable peculiarities. Upper canine 

 relatively small, its apex in line with large cusps of molars, and 

 slightly below that of posterior premolar ; lower canine corre- 

 spondingly short ; anterior upper premolar a well developed 

 functional tooth lying perfectly in tooth-row, with crown area 

 equal to nearly half that of canine, its shaft subterete though 

 flattened posteriorly, and only a little less than half as high as 

 main cusp of large premolar ; anterior and posterior lower pre- 



