Page:The mammals of Australia Gould vol 3.djvu/185

 Gould.

Blackish-grey Scotophilus.

fine specimen of this Bat was sent to me by Mr. Strange, who collected it in the neighbourhood of Moreton Bay. In size it is about equal to the Scotophilus picatus, to which it hears a close resemblance, but from which it is quite distinct. The S. picatus is an inhabitant of the distant interior, where it was collected by Captain Sturt in the neighbourhood of his farthest encampment, when he endeavoured to reach the centre of the continent from South Australia; the present animal, on the other hand, inhabits the country near the coast; it will be seen therefore that the two species affect very different localities.

The specimen from which my figure was taken will hereafter be deposited in the British Museum, where it may be examined by any mammalogist who may be desirous ot investigating the singular group of animals to which it pertains. I may add, that Mr. Tomes, who has paid much attention to this group, coincides with me in considering it to be a new and distinct species from any previously described.

Fur soft and velvety to the touch, the general hue greyish-black, becoming somewhat paler on the posterior part of the upper surface; abdomen washed with brown, and fading into very light brown on the vent; wing and tail-membranes purplish-brown.

The figures are of the natural size.