Page:The mammals of Australia Gould vol 3.djvu/137

 Gould.

Australian Taphozous.

a knowledge of this fine species of Bat, we are indebted to the researches of Mr. John MacGillivray, the Naturalist attached to H.M.S. Rattlesnake, during the recent survey of the northern coasts of Australia. After carefully comparing it with the various species contained in the unrivalled collection of the Vespertilionidæ in the Museum at Leyden, I have come to the conclusion that it is quite distinct, and have, therefore, given it the name of Taphozous Australis, it being, I believe, the first species of the form found in that country.

Mr. MacGillivray having kindly furnished me with a copy of his notes respecting this species, I cannot, perhaps, do better than give them in his own words;—notes taken on the spot being of infinitely greater value than any that can be elaborated from the most careful examination of the dried specimen.

"Dentition:—incisors 44 5 canines 44; false molars |^-|; true molars = 30.

"Length 3 inches; tail, 1; fore-arm, 2*5; hind-arm, 1; ear, 1; tragus, 0*25.

"Colour (there are two varieties): above, ferruginous brown; light brown in the centre of the back and across the abdomen, or entirely brownish grey; basal half of the fur white; below, ash-grey, with sometimes a slight reddish tinge; muzzle black.

"Nostrils: simple, terminal, bordering the upper lip.

"Ears: not connected at the base; rather large; somewhat triangular, the two exterior angles rounded; within thinly covered with scattered hairs; upper margin with a row of small tubercles; tragus one-fourth the length of the ear, irregularly quadrate; narrowed at the base; the exterior angles rounded, the inferior projecting most.

"Wings: above with a few hairs at the elbow, and rather thickly covered at the base of the intra-femoral membrane; below with a band of scattered whitish hairs along the arm aud fore-arm as far as the fifth digital phalange; second phalange single-jointed; the third, fourth and fifth three-jointed. "Tail not reaching to the posterior margin of the intra-femoral membrane; free for two-tenths of an inch.

"Incisors: upper very minute, simple; lower small, three-lobed.

"Canines: upper strong, curved, acute, with a small basal lobe projecting behind, and internally forming a sharp point; lower more slender, with projecting collar in front and on the sides.

"False molars: above, first very minute, second long, acute: below, acute, the second rather the longest.

"True molars: above, first and second nearly equal, with two sharp tubercles externally, and a low, sharp ridge internally; third very small, transverse, with two pointed tubercles and a sharp ridge; below, the first and second with five, and the third, which is the smallest, with four points on the crown.

"Habitat: the maritime caves in the sandstone cliffs of Albany Island, Cape York. In great numbers in three of the caves. Specimens obtained October 1848."

The animal is represented of the natural size.