SCOTOPHILUS GOULDL, Gray. 
Gould’s Bat. 
Scotophilus Gouldii, Gray in Grey’s Journ. of Discoveries in Australia, App. vol. ii. p. 405.—Ib. List of Mamm. 
in Coll. Brit. Mus., p. 30. 
Turs fine species of Bat is very generally dispersed over New South Wales, and, I believe, South Australia ; 
but, as yet, I have only seen examples from the districts of the former country lying between the 
mountain ranges and the sea, where it frequents the outskirts of the brushes and the wooded borders 
of the great rivers. It may be readily distinguished by the upper half of the body being black, while the 
lower is suffused with brown; and by the hairs of the latter hue on the under surface being lengthened, and 
extending on to the arms and wing-membranes. It appears, however, to be subject to considerable variation 
in colour, some being parti-coloured as described, while in others the black predominates ; others again, from 
Flinders’ Range in South Australia, have the brown tint reaching nearly to the nape on the upper surface 
and to the chest on the under surface. I have some specimens also from this locality with a good deal 
of brown on the chin and throat. I was for some time inclined to consider the Flinders’ Range specimens 
to be distinct; but, on submitting them to the inspection of Mr. Tomes, who has paid the most minute 
attention to this group of animals, that gentleman states that he considers them to be identical, and that 
the mere variation in colour, unaccompanied by a difference in structure, is not sufficient to warrant their 
separation. 
The anterior half of the body, both above and beneath, is sooty-black ; the posterior half of the upper 
surface brown ; sides and abdomen brownish fawn-colour ; wing-membranes purplish-brown. 
The figures are of the natural size. 
