148 BULLETIN 57, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 
History. — The genus Sturnira has generally been associated with 
the Stenodermatinse. Its tooth structure is so aberrant and highly 
specialized, however, that it is more naturally placed in a special sub- 
family. Dobson remarks that the molars resemble those of the fru- 
giverous Pteropi more closely than those of any other [then known] 
bats, a statement that would have been true if he had excepted the 
mandibular teeth of Pliyllonycteris. Winge passes the subject by 
with the mere remark that he regards the cheek teeth of Sturnira and 
V ampyrops as more primitive than those of the other Stenoderms, 
owing to the usual persistence of m 3 , the large size of m 2 , and the 
slight development of the upper cheek teeth. 
Principal subdivisions— The genus Sturnira is the only member 
of the subfamily yet known. 
Genus STURNIRA Gray. 
1842. Sturnira Gray, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., X, p. 257 {spectrum — 
lilium) . 
1849. Nyctiplanus Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, (1848), p. 58, January 30, 
1849 ( rotundatus = lilium). 
1878. Sturnira Dobson, Catal. Chiropt. Brit. Mus., p. 538. 
Type-species. — Sturnira spectrum Gray = PJiyZlostoma lilium 
Geoffroy. 
Geographic distribution. — Tropical America, north to Jamaica and 
southern Mexico. 
Number of forms. — Only the type species is now recognized. 
Characters. — Dental formula (Plates III, IV, fig. 3) : 
-2 3.1. — 34567 .2-2 1-1 2-2 3-3 
12- 1. - 2-4567*2- 2’ 0 l-V pm 2-2’ m 3-B -32 ' 
Upper incisors large, subequal in cross section, completely filling 
space between canines. Inner incisors with crowns higher than long, 
slightly oblique, strongly in contact near middle, the front surface 
convex, the posterior surface concave, the cutting edge entire or with 
the faintest possible suggestion of a terminal emargination. Outer 
incisors extending barely beyond cingulum of canine, longer than 
high, the crown broadly concave in front, narrowly convex behind, 
its cutting edge sharp, rising to an angular point at middle. Lower 
incisors small, closely crowded in a nearly straight line between 
canines, the roots projecting forward, the crowns rising perpendicu- 
larly at a distinct angle with roots; crowns of inner pair with narrow 
backward extension; cutting edge of all four teeth uniform^ tri- 
lobate, the lobes equal. Canines strong, the upper more than half as 
long as high, the lower more slender and with narrow but distinct 
posterior heel. Inner surface of upper canine strongly concave. 
Premolars simple, rather low, each with an outer cusp and inner con- 
cavity. Upper molars quadratic in outline, slightly broader than 
Jong, the main portion of the crown occupied by a deep longitudinal 
