VESPERTILIO MINUTUS. — Tem. 
Mammalia. — Plate LI. 
y. superne, vellere rubro-brunneo, infra flavo-brunneo versus basin rubro-brunneo ; alis membrana inter- 
femoralique brunneo-rubris ; auribus subovatis, margine externa emarginata. 
Longitudo e nasi apice ad basin caudee 2 unc. 6 lin. ; caud® 2 unc. 
Vespertilio, Hottentota et Capensis, Smith. — South African Quarterly Journal, New Series, vol. i. 1832. 
Colour. — The fur of the upper and lateral parts of the head, neck, and 
body, deep reddish brown, towards base inclined to liver-brown, below the 
same colour tinted at the surface with pale yellowish brown. Wing and 
interfemoral membranes intermediate between brownish red and liver-brown ; 
antibrachium and phalanges yellowish brown tinted with flesh-red. Ears 
light yellowish brown clouded with pale aurora-red ; apex of nose flesh-red ; 
eyes dark liver-brown. 
Form, &c. — Body rather broad; head small; nose bare and slightly 
truncated, nostrils apical and directed forwards. Eyes small ; ears subovate 
and as wide as they are high, the outer margin of each a little below the 
point slightly emarginate ; tragus narrow, about half the length of the ear, 
and slightly curved forwards, its apex arched. Thumb short and slender, 
claw small and much hooked ; the termination of the first finger about 
midway between the first and second joints of the second finger. Wing 
membranes faintly veined ; interfemoral membrane rather large, subtri- 
angular, and posteriorly pointed, the tail not extended beyond the mem- 
brane. Fur moderately long, soft, and silky. Muzzle with a number of 
short, rigid hairs. 
The incisor teeth of the upper jaw four, in pairs, close to the canines, — of 
the lower six, all contiguous, small, and multicuspidate, the points blunt ; 
canines large and pointed ; molars of upper jaw four, of lower five, each 
with one or more points on the outer edge, and with a more or less concave 
heel internally; the first molar both above and below, much the smallest. 
Length from the nose to the base of the interfemoral membrane 2 inches 
and a half; of the tail 2 inches; expanse of wing 12 inches; length of the 
antibrachium 1 inch 8 lines. 
Inhabits wooded districts throughout the whole of Southern Africa. It commences to 
seek its food about dusk ; continues on the wing throughout the night, and retires to caves 
in the rock, or cavities in decayed trees, as daylight appears. 
