DESCRIPTIONS OF TWO NEW SPECIES OF A NEW SUBGENUS 
OF BATS AND A NEW SPECIES OF MOLERATS. 
By Austin Roberts. 
PLATYMOPS PETROPHILUS spec. nov. 
This bat has a superficial resemblance to Nyctinomus aegyptiacus 
(S. African specimens), but upon close examination is found to differ in 
having the ears more widely separated at the inner base ; the antitra- 
gus represented by a mere thickening of the lobe ; the horny points on 
the upper part of the ear commencing near the rim of the ear and not 
far down as in aegyptiacus ; the thumb very thick ;the first and fifth toes 
also very thick — equal to double that of either of the other three — and 
thickly covered above and on the outer surface with fine white bristly 
hairs, but with hardly any of the very long bristles found in aegyptiacus ; 
the ears are haired as in aegyptiacus , but the area around the fibulae 
is more sparsely covered with white hairs. The ears arise about 4mm. 
apart to a height of a little more than 1 mm. and the upper margin 
thence for about 13 mm. is practically horizontal, thence curving down- 
wards a little way, increasing the breadth of the ear to 15 mm., then 
downwards and very slightly inwards for about 9.5 mm. to a point 
whence an increasing tendency inwards for 4 mm. carries the lower 
margin in an almost straight line to the outer base ; the antitragus is 
represented by a broadening and thickening of the lobe, flattened or 
slightly folded on the upper surface, with only a slight emargination 
beyond its outer edge ; the tragus is like that of aegyptiacus, quadrate, 
rather narrower at the base than the tip, with a slight nitch in the outer 
edge. The horny points on the upper margin of the ear are five in 
number just below the horizon, the rest on the edge of the ear, pro- 
ducing a saw-like horizon. The lips are wrinkled, the nostrils sub-lateral 
and no glands appear to be present. The wings arise on the tibia at 
about one-third of the length of the tibia from the feet. 
The skull of the type is, unfortunately, fragmentary, having been 
crushed when the rock was overturned under which it had taken up its 
abode. Nevertheless, from what there is of it, the dentition is clearly 
seen to be numerically identical with that of N. aegyptiacus , but the 
skull is flattened as in Platymops Thos. (Ann. & Mag. N.H., ser. 7, 
vol. 17, p. 499, 1906) ;the premaxillae do not meet anteriorly, and the 
incisors are large and convergent : the foremost premclar (P 2 ) is small, 
but easily seen without the aid of a lens, and is situated between the 
C °nd P4, well within the tooth row ; the lower anterior premolar is 
slightly smaller than the posterior premolar. 
Dimensions (taken from a spirit specimen) : Length of the head and 
body 53 mm., of the tail 38, of the free portion of the tail 15; diametre 
of the ear, vertically 14, horizontally 15; height of tragus 2.5; length of 
snout to the inner base of the ear 7 ; forearm 42 ; thumb 7 ; third digit, 
metacarpal 43, 1st phalanx 16, 2nd without the cartilage 15, with the 
