SCOTOPHXLBS BTNCANTT
(MajrnnaJin Plaie 531 v*
SCOTOPHILUS DINGANII.—S m it h .
M am m a lia .— P l a t e LUI.
S. superne villere viridi-brunneo, infra viridi-flavo; alarum membranâ purpureo-brunnea ; caudoe particulâ
ultra membranam interfemoralem extensâ ; capite magno ; labiis crassis.
Longitudo è nasi apice ad basin caudæ 3 une. 6 lin. ; caudee 2 une.
Yespertilio Dinganii, Smith.-—South African Quarterly Journal, New Series, vol. i. 1832.
Co l o u r—The fur of the upper and lateral parts of the head, neck, and
body intermediate between honey-yellow and dull orange coloured brown ;
of the under parts light honey-yellow. Wing and interfemoral membranes
light reddish brown shaded with brownish red. The muzzle anteriorly, the
upper lip and the ears yellowish brown tinted with flesh-red and faintly
clouded with pale brownish red. Antibrachium ând the phalanges intermediate
between brownish réd and lake-red. Ears light brownish red, with
a tint of flesh-red. Wings and interfemoral membrane deep purplish brown.
F o rm , &c.—Head rather large; nösé broad, full, and rather square ; sides
of head over upper lip prominent, nostrils projecting and opening forwards
; ears suhovate and broader than high; tragus long, narrow, linear
and subfalciform, its apex slightly rounded. Body rather robust ; wings
moderately large; antibrachium long and strong. Thumb slender, weak,
and slightly hooked; the first toe reaches nearly to the second joint of the
second toe. Interfëmonil membrane rather large, posteriorly triangular, the
tail projecting slightly beyond its point. Toes of the hinder feèt moderately
strong and nearly of equal length ; claws strong and much curved. The
nose and the sides of the head, towards the upper lip, thinly covered with
short coarse hair ; the rëst of the head, neck, and body, densely Coated with
a fine, silky, rather long fur. Interfemoral membrane towards its base with
a few short rigid hairs both on the upper and under surface.
The incisor teeth of the upper jaw, in the specimen described, two, small,
conical, and pointed, one close to each canine ; those of the lower jaw six,
closely set, small, laterally compressed, and each more or less hicuspidate.
Canines large, slightly curved, and pointed. The first molar, both above and
below, conical and pointed ; the others with sèvèral pyramidal points.
Length from nose to basé of tail 3 inches 6 lines ; length of tail 2 inches ;
length of antibràchium 2 inches 3 lines ; expanse of wings 12 inches.
Specimens of this species are rarely procured in South Africa. The one I possess, and
another which I saw in the possession' of a trader, were both obtained in the country between
Port Natal and Dèlagoa Bay.' The former, When it was .killed, was flitting to and fro on
the margin of a forest, about sixty miles to the east1 o f ■Natal.