1. MEGADERMA. 157 The membranes are almost naked, but the fur of the body extends upon the humerus and muscular part of the forearm very densely. First upper premolar very small and internal, partially covered by the expanded cingulum of the large second premolar, which has a distinct anterior and. posterior basal cusp ; the upper canine, on each side, has a very distinct acutely pointed internal basal cusp, which appears in recent specimens like an incisor, and also a large but less acute posterior cusp. The four lower incisors are equal in vertical extent, bifid, and, although close together, not crowded. Frontal bones flattened and slightly expanded laterally, with very short postorbital processes (Plate X. fig. 2a). Dentition. Inc. 5, c. =, pm. — m. — Length, head and body 3'°4, ear 1'*7, tragus 0'"7, nose-leaf 0'-55, forearm 2'°7, third finger 4'°7, fifth finger 3'"1, tibia 1'4, foot 0"65.
A specimen in the writer’s collection, sent from Mangalore, Malabar coast of India, by Dr. A. F. Dobson, has the terminal third of the fur above pale greyish brown, beneath almost white ; ears, nose-leaf, and membrane of the same pale colour. That this is not due to age is shown by the unworn condition of the teeth. It is also slightly smaller than adult specimens of M. lyra from other parts of India, but does not differ from them structurally so far as can beseen. The following are the measurements of this specimen :— Length, head and body 3':2, head 1'2, ear 1°55, tragus 0'°7, nose-leaf 0’'-55, forearm 2''5; third finger—metacarp. 1°75, 1st ph. 1'"1, 2nd ph. 2”; fourth finger—metacarp. 1-9, 1st ph. 06, 2nd ph. 0-85; fifth finger—metacarp. 2"-15, 1st ph. 0°75, 2nd ph. 0°65; tibia 1'-25, caleaneum 0°45, foot 0'°65.
Hab. Peninsula of India (from Kashmir to Cape Comorin) ; Ceylon.
a. ad. sk. Nipal, Himalayas. B. H. Hodgson, Esq. [P.]. b. fo ad., al. India. General Hardwicke [P.]. ec. ad. sk, Bombay. Dr. Leith [P.].
d-f. ad. sk. Madras. Sir Walter Elliot [P.].
gr. 3 ad., al. Madras. T. C. Jerdon, Esq. {Fl im. ad. sk. Java? E. I. Company [P.].
n. ad. sk. Old Collection.
o, ad. sk.
p. ad. sk. , q. 2 ad., al. Old Collection.
rx. skull. Nipal. B. H. Hodgson, Esq. iP y-c'. skulls. Madras. Sir Walter Elliot [P.]. d'. skeleton.
2. Megaderma spasma.
Vespertilio spasma, Linneus, Syst. Nat. 1758, p. 32; Schreber, Sdugethiere, i. p. 158, pl. xlviii. (1775).
Megaderma spasma, Geoffroy, Ann. du Mus. p. 195 (1810) ; Cantor, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng. 1846, p. 179; Blyth, Append, Kelaart’s
158 NYCTERID.A.
Prodr, Faune Zeylanice, p. 38 (1852) ; Peters, MB. Akad. Berl. 1872, p. 193; Dobson, Monogr. Asiat. Chiropt. p. 79 (1876). Megaderma trifolium, Geoffroy, 1. c. p. 193; Wagner, Suppl. Schreb, Stiugeth. i. p. 415 (1844), v. p. 642 (1855).
Megaderma philippinensis, Waterhouse, P. Z.S. 1843, p. 69. Megaderma horsfieldii, Blyth, Catal. Mammal. Mus. Asiat. Soc. Beng. p. 23 (1863).
Smaller than J. lyra, which it resembles in the form of the muzzle and ears; the posterior portion of the tragus is, however, longer and more attenuated upwards, and more acutely pointed ; the nose-leaf is shorter, with convex sides, but the anterior concave disk is considerably larger, its external margin is thickened and adherent to the muzzle beneath, and the base of the narrow longitudinal process is cordate (Plate X. fig. 1).
Thumb and wings quite similar to those of M. lyra ; but the interfemoral membrane is deeper, the calcanea stronger, and the wingmembrane does not extend so far down upon the foot. Colour and distribution of the fur as in WM. lyra.
First upper premolar larger than in M. lyra; in other respects the teeth are similar in both species.
The skull differs much from that of MZ. lyra and from the other species of the genus in the narrow unexpanded frontals, and in the complete absence of postorbital processes ; the mesopterygoid fossa is divided longitudinally by a very well-marked ridge (Plate X. figs. la, 1b).
Length, head and body 34, ear 1'°3, tragus 0:8, forearm 2'"3, thumb 0-6, third finger 4", fifth finger 3'"1, tibia 1:25, foot 0"°6.
Hab. Malay Peninsula (Malacca) ; Siam; Philippine Islands, Ternate, Celebes, Sumatra, Java, ? Ceylon.
This is the only species of the genus extending into the Australian Region, but it has been found only in those parts of that region adjoining the Oriental Region, the avifauna of which shows a large admixture of species from Java and Borneo with Australian forms. The occurrence of this species in Ceylon is doubtful, for no specimens from that locality are found in any of themuseums. Mr. Blyth has, however, stated that he had compared specimens from Ceylon with those from Malacca and Java*; and his short description of the form of the nose-leaf certainly agrees with the characters of M. spasmt, a. f ad, al. Ceylon ? Purchased.
bd. ad. sk. Pinang.
ce. ad. sk. Singapur.
d. & ad., al. Siam. Purchased.
e. ad. sk, Java. Purchased.
f-A. ad. sk. Java.
* The specimens from Malacca and Java referred to by Mr. Blyth (Kelaart, Prodr. Faun Zeylanicex,| pp. 36, 38) are still preserved in the collection of the Indian Museum, Calcutta, and are undoubtedly referable to this species.
I. MEGADERMA. 159 % dad, al. Borneo. L. L, Dillwyn, Esq. [P.]. J. & ad, al. North Celebes. Purchased.
k. So ad., al. Philippine Islands. Zool. Soc. Coll. 1. f ad., al. Luzon. Dr. Meyer [C.].
m,n. $ juy.& 9 ad.,al. Philippine Islands.
o. ad. sk. Ternate. A. R. Wallace [C.].
p-t. ad. sk. E. I. House Coll.
u. 2 ad, al. Sir A. Smith [P.].
v. ad, sk. No history.
w. skeleton. Java, Purchased.
x. skull of n.
3. Megaderma cor.
Megaderma cor, Peters, MB. Akad. Berl. 1872, p. 194. Nose-leaf generally similar to that of MW. spasma, but the front margin is longer, and the terminal leaf is rounded above, not truncated as in that species, and clothed with fine hairs as in M. frons. Ears somewhat longer than in M. spasma, but similar in general form. The tragus is peculiar: the anterior lobe quadrate, not broadly sickle-shaped and terminating above in a point, but the upper margin is concave and separated from the outer convex margin by a small projection only.
The foot is much larger, and the caleaneum shorter than in M. spasma.
Colour of the fur as in WM. lyra. Muzzle and chin clothed with rather long stiff hairs.
Frontal bones flattened and grooved, with well-developed postorbital processes, resembling in this respect MW. frons rather than M. spasma.
Rte 0° ett 1-1 3-3 Dentition. Inc. qo © 77> PM. x M. es Length, head and body 3'°2, head 11, ear 1°55, tragus 0'"7, nose-leaf 0°55 x 0'"28, forearm 2”, thumb 06, third finger 36, fifth finger 2'-8, tibia 1'"1, calcaneum 0'"3, foot 0'°7. Hab. Africa (Abyssinia; Mombaga).
Type in the collection of the Berlin Museum. The above has been taken from Dr. Peters’s original description of this species, founded on a single adult male specimen, which I have not seen. 4, Megaderma frons.
Megaderma frons, Geoffroy, Ann. du Muséum, xv. p. 192 (1810) Wagner, Suppl. Schreb. Sdugeth. i. p. 414 (1844), v. p. 648 (1853) ; Peters, MB. Akad. Berl, 1859, p. 228, 1872, p. 196. Lavia frons, Gray, Mag. Zool. § Bot. ii. p. 490 (1838). Muzzle as in M. lyra, but more obtuse in front, and the lower lip has no naked prominences separated by a longitudinal groove. Ears very large, larger than in any of the other species of the genus, united by a deep band; tragus longer than the head, tapering evenly to a very fine point, the anterior lobe not half its length,
160 NYCLERID®.
but nearly equal to it in breadth, also acutely pointed and clothed with soft hair. Nose-leaf very large, nearly as long as the head, slightly convex on the sides, abruptly truncated above, the anterior portion with an expanded thin free margin, forming a narrow, but considerably elevated, fold in the centre; nostrils, as in the other species, at the bottom of a deep concavity, concealed by the expanded base of a central longitudinal crest, somewhat similar in shape to that of MZ. lyra, but much larger. The posterior erect, portion of the leaf covered with fine hairs (Plate X. fig. 3). Fur above and beneath deep slate-blue.
Wing-membrane from the back of the foot from the space between the bases of the first and second toes ; interfemoral membrane and caleaneum as in M, lyra.
Frontal bones deeply grooved, much flattened and expanded laterally, forming large postorbital processes as in the genus Nycteris (Plate X. fig. 3a). The cartilaginous premaxillary bones more developed than in any of the other species (fig. 3d). Length, head and body 2'"6, interfemoral membrane 18, head 1”, ear 1':65, nose-leaf 0'°9, tragus 1-05, forearm 2’°2, thumb 0'°45, third finger 4'"1, fifth finger 3”, tibia 0'-6, foot 0'"6. Hab. Tropical parts of West and East Africa, from the coast of Guinea to Abyssinia and Zanzibar.
The only information we possess on the habits of this species (which differs so remarkably in structure from all the other species of this genus) is contained in the following note by Capt. J. H. Speke :—‘*‘ This Bat was shot flying at Meninga. They were numerous, but rose singly from the ground, and alighted sometimes in the bushes, sometimes again in the grass” *.
This appears to indicate that M. frons hunts for its prey by day as well as by night; and the large size of the eyes in this as well as in the other species of Megaderma leads us to consider this very probable. Mr. Blyth has shown that W. lyra feeds on grasshoppers and small Bats (and probably on other small animals); and the individuals of M. frons observed by Capt. Speke may have been engaged in hunting for grasshoppers and small mammals among the long grass.
a-d. ad. sk. Gambia.
e. ad. sk, Clan Nil (?). Purchased.
Sf. B ad., al. Khartoum. Purchased.
gh. 2 (uv. et ad.) al. W. Africa. Mr. Fraser’s Collection. 1, Je o ad., al. Dar-es-Salaam. Dr. Kirk [C.].
. sk, 1, skeleton. Purchased.
m. skull of 7.
a. skull. Cape Coast Castle. F. Williams, Esq. [P.]. * PB. Z, 8. 1864, p. 99.
2. NYCTERIS. 161 Subfam. II. NYCTERINA.
Nostrils at the anterior extremity of a deep longitudinal facial groove; tail long, produced to the hinder margin of the interfemoral membrane.
2. NYCTERIS.
Nycteris, Geoffroy, Desmarest, Nouv. Dict. d'Hist. Nat. xv. p. 501 (1803) ; Descript. de ? Egypte, ii. p. 118 (1812); Peters, MB. Akad. Berl. 1870, p. 900.
Nycteris et Petalia, Gray, Mag. Zool. § Bot. ii. p. 494 (1838). Nyeteris, et Nycterops et Pelatia, Gray, P. Z. 8. 1866, p. 83. Muzzle cylindrical as in Megaderma, but shorter, and the lower lip has a wart in front, with two much larger naked prominences below ; the lower lip also slightly projects beyond the upper ; face deeply grooved longitudinally, the sharp-edged groove extending from the nostrils (which are on the upper surface of the muzzle near its extremity) to the lower band connecting the bases of the ears ; the posterior half of this groove is wider and more depressed than the anterior, and its floor is divided by a very slightly elevated, narrow, longitudinal ridge ; the sides of the depression are margined as far back as the eyes by small horizontal cutaneous appendages ; ears large, united by a low band, which in some species is scarcely developed ; eyes small.
Index finger consisting of the metacarpal bone alone; fourth and fifth metacarpal bones longer than the third; wings ample, from the base of the toes; tail long, the terminal caudal vertebra -formed ; no fibula; mamme pectoral, not axillary.
Dentition. Inc. > Cc. = pm. = m. | Upper incisors small, chisel-shaped, bifid or trifid, equal in vertical extent, and close together in the centre of the space between the canines (Plate XI. fig. 1, incisors of Nycteris hispida) ; second lower premolar smaller than the first, often minute and internal to the tooth-row. The frontal bones greatly expanded and flattened, much more so than in Megaderma, and grooved by a deep depression (Plate XI. fig. 2, skull of Mycteris javanica).
Range. Ethiopian and Oriental Regions (in the latter Region as yet recorded from the Malay Peninsula and Java only). Mycteris thebaica extends slightly beyond the limits of the Ethiopian Region. Although the species of this genus differ very considerably from those of the genus Megaderma in the form of the nose-leaf and in the great length of the tail, the affinity of the two genera is shown by the peculiar form of the frontal bones, which are almost similarly grooved and expanded (though in a less degree) in Megaderma frons as in the species of Nycteris, also by the form and structure of the ears, and by the great development of the integumentary system. In general structure Nycteris approaches the Ihinolophide more M
162 NYCTERIDE.
closely than Megaderma, and even agrees with the species of the genus [hinolophus in the small size of the second lower premolar, and in the general form of the molar teeth. The position and size of the second lower premolar has been used to distinguish the species ; but, as I have shown in the genus Rhinolophus (p. 114), this character cannot be relied upon except when taken in connection with other peculiarities of structure. The form of the tragus, the size of the ears, and the dental characters must be considered together in distinguishing the species of this genus, which, unlike those of Megaderma and Rhinolophus, show no appreciable differences in the form of the cutaneous nasal appendages. Synopsis of the Species.
A. The tragus reaches its greatest width opposite the base of its inner margin.
«. Inner margin of the tragus concave. a’, ea incisors trifid; ears scarcely longer than the head.
a", Second lower premolar minute, in the tooth-row; forearm 1} inch .... ... 1. WN. hispida, p. 162. b". Second lower premolar one third the size of the first ; forearm 23 inches .. 2. N. grandis, p. 164. b'. Upper incisors bifid; ears cousiderably longer than the head.
ce. Second lower premolar two thirds the size of the first, in the tooth-row .... 3. M. javanica, p. 164. ad’, Second lower premolar minute, half ® internal to the tooth-row .......... 4. N. ethiopica, p. 165. B. Tragus expanded above, reaching its greatest width opposite the middle of its inner marin; ears much longer than the head. b. Inner margin of the tragus straight. ce’, Upper incisors bifid.
e”. Second lower premolar minute, half internal to the tooth-row ............ 5. N. macrotis, p. 165. c. Inner margin of the tragus convex. d’, pee incisors bifid.
ff”. Second lower premolar minute, quite internal to the tooth-row .......... 6. N. thebaica, p. 165. g'. Second lower premolar minute, in the tooth-row..........-. en eee 7. N. capensis, p. 166. 1. Nycteris hispida.
Vespertilio hispidus, Schreber, Sdugeth. i. p. 169, pl. lvi. (1775). Nycteris daubentonii, Geoffroy, Descr. de ? Egypte, p. 118 (1812) (vide Peters, MB. Akad. Berl. 1870, p. 901). Rhinolophus martini, Fraser, P. Z. S. 1848, p. 25. Nycteris poensis, Gray (nomen nudum), Catal. Mammal. Brit. Mus. p. 24 (1843).
Nycterops pilosa, Gray, P. Z. S. 1866, p. 83, Nycteris hispida, Peters, /.c. pl. figs. 1, 2.
2, NYCTERIS. 163 Kars slightly longer than the head, oval, rounded off above ; inner and outer margins of the ear-conch convex, at the base of the outer margin a small erect lobe; tragus small, curved inwards and forwards, narrowed above, extremity rounded, inner margin concave. The surface of the ear-conch is thickly studded with glandular elevations from which small hairs arise, and the tragus is covered with long hairs. On the face the posterior cutaneous leaflets margining the longitudinal groove are covered with hair, which also conceals the deep frontal cavity. The sides of the muzzle in front are covered with erect hairs. The fur of the back extends thickly upon the humerus and fleshy part of the forearm, and upon the wing-membrane as far as a line drawn from the elbow to the knee; the anterior one third of the interfemoral membrane is thinly covered. Fur and integuments dark brown or black, the extremities of the hairs paler.
Upper incisors short, broad, and trifid; lower incisors trifid, slightly crowded ; the single upper premolar large and close to the canine; the second lower premolar minute, in the tooth-row, varying slightly in size.
Length (of an adult 2), head and body 1'8, tail 1'-85, head 0’°7, ear 0-85, tragus 0'°25x0':14, forearm 1:6, thumb 0'"4, third finger 2'-9, fifth finger 22, tibia 0'-8, foot 0'°35. Hab. That part of the Ethiopian Region which is included within the continent of Africa.
a 6 &Qad,al. Northern Africa. Purchased.
6 Q ad.,al. Khartoum. F, Petherick, Esq. [C.]. ec. ad. sk, Fernando Po Island. Capt. E. Downes, R.N. [P.]. (Type of Nycteris poensis, Gray.)
d. @ ad, al. Fernando Po Island. Zool. Soe, Coll. e. @ ad., al. Old Calabar. Dr. J. A. Smith tet f. o ad, al. Old Calabar. Dr. J. A. Smith [P.]. g. & ad., al. Old Calabar. Purchased.
hk. & ad., al. Lagos. Purchased.
7. ¢ imm,, al. Angola. Dr. J. E. Gray [P.].
j- Q ad., al. Zanzibar. Dr, Kirk [P.].
k. 2 ad., al. Cape of Good Hope. Sir A. Smith [P.]}. . ad., al. No history.
Var. a.
Nycteris villosa, Peters, Reise nach Mossambique, Stiugeth. p. 48, pl. xi. (1852); MB. Akad. Berl. 1870, p. 902, pl. fig. 3 (teeth). Distinguished from N. hispida, according to Dr. Peters, by the more extended distribution of the fur upon the volar membranes, and by the greater size of the second lower premolar. Hab. South-east Africa (Inhambane).
Type in the collection of the Berlin Museum.
M2
164 NYCTERID 45, 2. Nycteris grandis.
Nycteris grandis, Peters, MB. Akad. Berl. 1865, p. 358; 1870, p. 906. Considerably larger than any other known species of the genus, but in the form of the ears and tragus, in the trifid upper incisors, and even in the colour and distribution of the fur agreeing with N. hispida. The lower jaw projects to a greater extent than even in VV. javanica, and the second lower premolar, though not so large as in that species, is nearly one third the size of the first premolar, and is not crushed in between the adjoining teeth, but stands in the ceutre of the tooth-row.
Length (of an adult 2), head and body 2'-8, tail 2’-9, head 1”, ear 12, tragus 0’-3~x0'"14, forearm 2-25, thumb 0-7; third finger—metacarp. 1°7, Ist ph. 1-15, 2nd ph. 1'-4; fifth finger— metacarp. 1-9, Ist ph. 0°65, 2nd ph. 0°65; tibia 1'-25, calcaneum 09, foot 0'°56.
Hab. West Africa (Accra, Gold Coast; coast of Guinea). a. fo ad, al. Purchased.
3. Nycteris javanica.
Nycteris javanicus, Geoffroy, Ann. du Muséum, xx. p. 20 (1813). Petalia javanica, Gray, Mag. Zool. § Bot. ii. p. 494 (1838). Nycteris javanica, Peters, MB. Akad. Berl. 1870, p. 906, figs. 9, 9 a (tragus and teeth) ; Dobson, Monogr. Asiat. Chir opt. p. 81 (1877). Ears as in the preceding species, but proportionately larger ; tragus also similar, slightly broader. The lower jaw projects beyond the upper, and the second lower premolar is nearly two thirds the size of the first, and stands in the centre of the tooth-row. Upper incisors bifid.
The fur of the body extends to a less distance outwards upon the membranes than in WV. hispida. The colour varies, but appears to be generally bright reddish brown above, and a paler shade of the same beneath.
Length (of an adult 9), head and body 2'"3, tail 2'°45, head 0'-85, ear 1'°1, tragus 0':25x0'14, forearm 1:8, thumb 06, third finger 8”, fifth finger 2”-7, tibia 0':95, calcaneum 0°75, foot 0'°45, Hab. Java; Malay Peninsula (Malacca”).
Nycteris javanica is the only species of the genus as yet discovered beyond the limits of the continent of Africa. It is distinguished from all the other species by the large size of the second lower premolar, and by the bright reddish-brown colour of the fur. a. ad. sk, Java. Leyden Museum.
b,c. ad. sks. Java, Purchased.
d. imm. sk. Java. E. I. House Collection.
e. ad. sk. Timor. Purchased.
f 9, al. Purchased.
g. skull of e.
A. skeleton. Purchased.
* ‘This locality depends on the authority of Mr. Blyth (vide Catal. Mammal. Mus. As, Soc. Beng. 1863, p. 28).