276 CHIEOPTBEA 



Family MOLOSSIT)^. 



1865. Molossi Peters, Monatsber. k. preuss. Akad. Wissensch., Berlin, p. 258. 

 1872. Molossidse Gill, Arrangement of the Families of Mammals, p. 17. 

 1878. Emballonuridas (part; Molossinx, part, Molossi) Dobson, Catal. 



Cbiropt. Brit. Mus., p. 402. 

 1907. Molossidse Miller, Families and Genera of Bats, p. 241, June 29, 1907. 



Geographical distribution. — Warmer parts of both hemispheres ; 

 in the Old World north to the Mediterranean region and 

 southern Asia. 



Characters. — Essentially like the Vespertilionidae except that 

 the secondary articulation of humerus with scapula is more 

 perfectly developed and the fibula is robust, adding appreciably 

 to strength of leg. Auditory bulla noticeably emarginate on inner 

 side. Tail projecting very conspicuously beyond membrane, a 

 character by which the only European member of the group may 

 be immediately recognized. 



Bemarhs. — The family Molossidse is widely distributed in the 

 warmer parts of both hemispheres. Eleven genera are now 

 known, one of which is represented in the Mediterranean region 

 of Europe. 



Genus NYCTINOMUS Geoffroy. 



1818. Nyctinomus Geoffroy, Descr. de l'Bgypte, n, p. 114 (segyptiacus). 

 1821. Nyctinoma Bowdioh, Anal. Nat. Class. Mamni., p. 28 (Modification 

 of Nyctinomus). 



1821. Nyctinomes Gray, London Med. Bepos., xv, p. 299, April 1, 1821 



(Modification of Nyctinomus). 



1822. Nyctinomia Fleming, Philos. of Zool., n, p. 178 (Modification of 



Nyctinomus). 

 1842. Mops Lesson, Nouv. Tabl. B.egne Anim., p. 18 (Mops indicus Lesson 



= Dysopes mops F. Cuvier). 

 1878. Nyctinomus Dobson, Catal. Chiropt. Brit. Mus., p. 420 (part). 

 1902. Nyctinomops Miller, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, p. 393, 



September 12, 1902 (femorosaccus). 

 1907. Nyctinomus Miller, Families and Genera of Bats, p. 251, June 29, 1907. 



Type species. — Nyctinomus segyptiacus Geoffroy. 



Geographical distribution. — Warmer portions of both hemi- 

 spheres, north to the southern United States and to the Mediter- 

 ranean coast of Europe, east to the Philippines and Norfolk 

 Island. 



Characters. — Dental formula : i tl or t?,* c t? , vm — , m s - = 30 



2-iJ 3-3' 1-1' £ 2-a' 3-3 



or 32 ; brain-case not unusually flattened, its depth at least half 

 its width ; bony palate with a small median anterior emargination 

 extending to behind level of roots of incisors. 



Remarks. — As thus defined the genus Nyctinomus contains 



* In the species occurring in Europe. 



