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Show 1905.] MAMMALS FROM ZULULAND. 257 7. N y c t e r is c a p e n s is Smith. c?. 622, 625, 629, 630. $ . 624, 631, 632, 635. Jususie Valley. A comparison of these specimens with those obtained by Mr. Grant in Namaqualand shows that the latter have conspicuously larger ears. It seems probable therefore that JV. daniarensis Peters f , of which a co-type in the British Museum has similarly large ears, should be recognised as distinct from JV. capensis. 8 . PlPISTRELLUS KUHLII FUSCATUS TllOS. $ . 911. Ngoye Hills. 9. S c o to ph t lu s n ig r it a Schreb. $ . 922. Ngoye Hills. 10. V e s p e r t il io c a p e n s is g r a c il io r , s u b s p . n . <5 . 678. Eshowe. " Caught in the house at night."-C. H. B. G. Smaller throughout than V. capensis (which includes " V. minutus " auct.). The fur shorter (hairs of back about 5 mm.). General colour, both above and below, darker, the light tips to the hairs shorter and browner. Back of ears less heavily haired at base. Skull smaller than that of V. capensis, but similar in shape. Teeth lighter and more delicate, with broader gaps between the inner halves of the upper molars, the inner lobe of the large premolars being particularly narrow. Dimensions of the type (the starred measurements taken in the flesh):- Forearm 29 mm. Head and body *47 mm.; tail *28; ear *12; tragus 3 5 ; expanse *216. Length of third finger 52. Skull-greatest length 13*2 ; basal length in middle line 10'1 ; mastoid breadth 7-8 ; height of brain-case 4‘5 ; combined length of large upper premolar and first two molars on outer edge 3‘1 ; front of lower canine to back of m3 5-l. Hab. Eshowe, 550 m. Type. Male. B.M. no. 4.8.31.3. In working out this smaller form of the common V. capensis we have had occasion to examine the specimens and names placed by Dobson under the headings of V. capensis and V. minutus, and have found a considerable amount of revision necessary. In the first place, all the South-African specimens divided by Dobson between these two species belong apparently to but a single one, for which the name V. capensis Smith, the earliest of all, is available. The forearm varies from 32 to 36 mm. (generally about 34); its skull is about 14 mm. in greatest length; the f MB. Ak. Berl. 1870, p. 905. 17* |