Description.—This Phyllostoma agrees with the species described by Mr. J. Gray[[4]] under the name of Childreni, in having on the lower lip “an half ovate group of crowded warts,” but is of a much smaller size, and differs also in colour.
The number of teeth are as follows:—incisors ⁴⁄₄; canines ²⁄₂; molars 5⁵⁄₅–5 = 32. The intermediate pair of incisors of the upper jaw are large, compressed, and have their apices rounded; the lateral pair are so minute, that they are scarcely visible without the assistance of a lens: the four incisors of the lower jaw, are somewhat crowded, the intermediate pair are slightly larger than the lateral; they are all deeply notched, and broad at the apex. The cerebral portion of the skull is much arched and the anterior portion is depressed. The zygomatic arch is imperfect; see Pl. 35. figs. 2. The nose-leaf is lanceolate, and of moderate size: the ears are also of moderate size; they are rounded at the tip and emarginated on their exterior edge: the tragus is elongated, and suddenly attenuated towards the apex; the outer margin is deeply notched towards the base, and very obscurely crenulated above this notch. The interfemoral membrane is of moderate extent, and emarginated posteriorly. The tail, which is very slender, is entirely enclosed by the interfemoral membrane, and the visible portion appears to consist of but two joints, which together, measure about two and a half lines in length. The basal half of the thumb is enclosed in membrane. The fur is soft and rather long. The general tint of the upper and under parts of the body is brownish-ash; the hairs on the neck and on the whole of the back are grey at the base, then white, or nearly so, brownish-ash near the tip, and whitish at the tip. On the belly the hairs are nearly of an uniform brown-ash colour, their apices only being whitish. The ears, nose-leaf, and membrane of the wings, are of a sooty-black hue.
| In. | Lines. | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Length of | head and body | 2 | 0 |
| antibrachium | 1 | 4⅓ | |
| thumb (claw included) | 0 | 5½ | |
| tibia | 0 | 7 | |
| ear | 0 | 7 | |
| nose-leaf | 0 | 3⅓ | |
| Expanse of | the wings | 10 | 0 |
Habitat, Pernambuco, Brazil. (August.)
“This species appeared to be common at Pernambuco (five degrees north of Bahia). Upon entering an old lime-kiln in the middle of the day, I disturbed a considerable number of them: they did not seem to be much incommoded by the light, and their habitation was much less dark than that usually frequented as a sleeping place by these animals.” D.
I have named this species after Mr. John Gray, the author of several extensive memoirs on the order to which it belongs, and to whom I am indebted for valuable assistance whilst comparing this and other species with those contained in the collection of the British Museum.
2. Phyllostoma perspicillatum.
I find in Mr. Darwin’s collection, a bat agreeing with the description of M. Geoffroy Saint Hilaire,[[5]] under the above name, with the exception of a slight difference in the dimensions; I will, therefore, add those of the present specimen, which is a female. It may be observed, that in the animal before me, the tragus of the ear is pointed, and not bifid at the apex, as represented in plate xi of the work quoted.
| In. | Lines. | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Length of | head and body | 4 | 0 |
| antibrachium | 2 | 7 | |
| nose-leaf | 0 | 5 | |
| ear | 0 | 8½ | |
| tragus | 0 | 3 | |
| tibia | 1 | 0 | |
| Expansion of | the wings | 16 | 8 |
“This bat was caught at Bahia, (latitude 13° S.) on the coast of Brazil, in consequence of its having flown into a room where there was a light. I scarcely ever saw an animal so tenacious of life.” D.