CHEIROMELES TORQUATUS. 
and thus constitutes a perfect hand. Tlie metatarsus, in Cheiromeles, is broader than 
in other Vesper tilionidse. The metatarsal bone, supporting the thumb, is very 
robust ; it is somewhat swelled at both extremities ; at the point of articulation its 
situation is in a small degree oblique, so that the thumb at the base has a natural 
disposition to diverge from the fingers. The first phalanx is of great dimensions ; 
in our specimen its sides are angular, and it has double the size of the ringers. 
The second and third phalanges are very minute, and cannot be distinguished 
separately. The nail is long, broad, perfectly even before, somewhat concave behind, 
and slightly rounded exteriorly at the extremity. It is proportionally longer than the 
nail in Monkies, but it has the true character of the Unguis lamnaris, resembling 
in its structure the elongated nail of the Prosimii and Macrotarsi of Illiger. A very 
slight convexity exists in the anterior surface of the nail, and the posterior is pro- 
portionally concave ; at the insertion of the nail the thumb is distended, and the 
sides are somewhat flat. Together with the structure and position of the thumb, 
a very peculiar character is afforded to the Cheiromeles by an appendage or brush, 
consisting of bristly hairs, directed to one side, and forming a regular series along 
, the outer margin of the. thumb. At the extremity the hairs are long, and spread as 
a fan over the nail ; they gradually decrease in length as they approach the base, 
preserving throughout the same direction. The separate hairs are rigid, thicker at 
the base, then gradually attenuated, and terminated by a hook. To this singular 
character I have observed an analogous structure in Nyctinomus, by which it is in 
some measure illustrated. It is doubtless of importance in the economy of the animal, 
but its use remains to be determined. This character must not be confounded with 
the long, solitary, bristly hairs wliich, in Cheiromeles as well as in Nyctinomus, are 
loosely scattered over the fingers, and particularly over the extremity, near the 
insertion of the claws. The other fingers are compressed, disposed in the same 
direction, nearly of equal length, and armed with strongly compressed claws, agree- 
ing essentially with those of other animals of this family. The skin which covers 
the base of the fingers is lax, and constitutes a short membrane between them. 
The neck of the Cheiromeles torquatus is short and thick ; the body large, ovate, 
broad between the shoulders, then gradually contracted, and obtusely terminated. 
The interfemoral membrane is short, transversely distended between the thighs, and 
obtuse, with a slight curve on each side of the tail. Its texture is thick and rugose, 
and it is, to appearance, plentifully supplied w ith muscular fibres. In this character 
Cheiromeles resembles Nyctinomus more than other animals of this family : in its 
termination, expansion, and rugosity, the interfemoral membrane of Cheiromeles 
