Page:The mammals of Australia Gould vol 3.djvu/157

 Geoffroy's Nyctophilus.

Nyctophilus Geoffroyi, Leach, in Linn. Trans., vol. xiii. p. 78.—Temm. Monog., vol. ii. pi. 34.— Gray, in Mag. of Zool. and Bot., vol. ii. p. 12.—Id., List, of Mamm. in Coll. Brit. Mus., p. 25.—Id., in Grey's Journ. of Two Exp. in N.W. and W. Australia, vol. ii. p. 400.

Barbastellus Pacificus, Gray, Zool. Misc., vol. i. p. 38.

Nyctinomus ——, Benn. Cat. of Australian Museum, Sydney, p. 1. no. 2.

figures on the accompanying Plate are taken from specimens captured in New South Wales, and I consider it necessary to state this particularly, because the long-eared Bat of Western Australia, though very nearly allied, may prove to be distinct: the specimens I possess from the latter country are larger, and have much more powerful teeth than any examples I have seen from the eastern parts of the continent. I shall therefore speak of the present animal as an inhabitant of New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land, with a slight doubt as to whether the Tasmanian animal may not be different also, all the specimens I have yet examined being smaller and darker than those from New South Wales or Western Australia. Every mammalogist is aware how closely the Vespertilionidæ are allied, and how difficult it is to obtain correct information respecting the species inhabiting our own country. I may therefore be readily excused for not coming to a hasty conclusion on the subject of those of the antipodes: one thing is certain, namely, that the animal figured is identical with the specimens in the British Museum which were received from New South Wales, and to which I find the name of Geoffroyi attached.

I frequently saw this animal during my sojourn in New South Wales, and remarked that it was a high flier and extremely active in the air; in other respects, as may be supposed, it closely assimilated in its actions and economy to the nearly allied species in Europe. As the figures in the accompanying Plate are the size of life, it will be unnecessary to give the admeasurements.

The face is fleshy brown, deepening into dark brown on the nose and laterally expanded nose-leaf; fur clothing the upper surface brown, that of the under surface greyish brown, washed with rufous on the sides; ears and wing-membranes purplish brown.