VESPERTILIO MINUTUS.—T em .
M ammalia.— P la t e LI.
V. superne, vellere rubro-brunneo, infra flavo-brunneo versus basin rubro-brunneo; alis membrana inter-
femoralique brunneo-rubris ; auribus subovatis, margine externa emarginata.
Longitudo e nasi apice ad basin eaudee 2 unc. 6 lin.; caudas 2 unc.
Vespertilio, Hottentota et Capensis, Smith.—South African Quarterly Journal, New Series, vol. i. 1832.
C o lo u r .— The fur of the upper and lateral parts of the head, neck, and
body, deep reddish brown, towards base inclined to liver-brown, below the
same colour tinted at the surface with pale yellowish brown. Wing and
interfemoral membranes intermediate between brownish red and liver-brown ;
antibrachium and phalanges- yellowish brown tinted with flesh-red. Ears
light yellowish brown clouded with pale aurora-red ; apex of nose flesh-red ;
eyes dark liver-brown.
F orm , &c.—Body rather broad; head small; nose bare and slightly
truncated, nostrils apical and directed forwards. Eyes small; ears subovate
and as wide as they are high, the outer margin of each a little below the
point slightly emarginate; tragus narrow, about half the length of the ear,
and slightly curved forwards, its apex arched. Thumb short and slender,
claw small and much hooked; the termination of the first finger about
midway between the first and second joints of the second finger. Wing
membranes faintly veined; interfemoral membrane rather large, subtri-
angular, and posteriorly pointed, the tail not extended beyond the membrane.
Fur moderately long, soft, and silky. Muzzle with a number of
short, rigid hairs.
The incisor teeth of the upper jaw four, in pairs, close to the canines,—of
the lower six, all contiguous, small, and multicuspidate, the points blunt;
canines large and pointed; molars of upper jaw four, of lower five, each
with one or more points on the outer edge, and with a more or less concave
heel internally ; the first molar both above and below, much the smallest.
Length from the nose to the base of the interfemoral membrane 2 inches
and a half; of the tail 2 inches ; expanse of wing 12 inches ; length of the
antibrachium 1 inch 8 lines.
Inhabits wooded districts throughout the whole of Southern Africa. It commences to
seek its food about dusk ; continues on the wing throughout the night, and retires to caves
in the rock, or cavities in decayed trees, as daylight appears.
VESPERTILIO MINUT.U
(Mammalia.— P la te 51.)