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Show 368 MR. G. E. DOBSON ON THE GENUS SCOTOPHILUS. [May 4, From the paper above referred to, the definition of the Colum-binae, containing the genus Columba, may be (hus stated :- C O L U M B I N E . Columbidee possessing an ambiens muscle, intestinal caeca, an oil-gland, 12 rectrices, and no gall-bladder. Whereas Carpophaga possesses the ambiens muscle, an oil-gland, a gall-bladder, and no intestinal caeca. In Ianthcenas leucolama the ambiens muscle and the oil-gland are present, as are the intestinal caeca*. The gall-bladder is absent. This bird must therefore, together with Columba, Turtur, Macropygia, and Ectopistes, be placed in the Columbine and not in the Carpophagine division. The intestines are 47 inches in length, of average diameter; and the gizzard is typical in structure, having simple plicated pads. Erythrcenas pulcherrima.-This species is truly Ptilonopine in all its characters. As in Ptilonopus, the ambiens muscle is wanting, as are the caeca to the intestine. The gall-bladder is present; and the oil-gland is very small. The gizzard presents the peculiarities of that genus, although the four pads are not so regularly constructed, minor plications existing. There are 14 rectrices ; and the intestines (which are capacious, as in all fruit-eating birds) are 16 inches in length. 4. On the Genus Scotophilus, with Description of a new Genus and Species allied thereto. By G . E . D O B S O N , B.A., M.B., F.L.S. [Received April 17, 1875.] In 1820 the genus Scotophilus was founded by Dr. W. E. Leach f on a single immature specimen of a Bat which belongs probably to the species now generally known as Nycticejus temminckii, Horsf.*]". That specimen was also made by Dr. Leach the type of his Scotophilus kuhlii ; and this name would take precedence of Hors-field's if it were possible to determine decisively the adult form from an examination of the immature animal. The specimen in question (which is preserved in alcohol in the British Museum) still retains the deciduous milk-teeth, which, in the case of the upper incisors, are two in excess of those found in all adult individuals belonging to this genus. It would therefore be quite impossible also to distinguish the genus as defined by Leach from Keyserling and Blasius's subgenus Vesperus§. The question therefore arises, whether this genus, so very imperfectly defined, and founded on a specimen of an animal so immature that the species to which it belongs cannot be determined, should not be rejected altogether. * These are extremely slender, and require special precautions to be taken for their demonstration. t Trans. Linn. Soc. 1822, xiii. p. 71. X Horsfield, ' Zoological Researches in Java,' 1825. § Vesperus, subgenus of Vesperugo, Keys. & Bias. (Wiegmann's Archiv, 1839, p. 312). |
