On the Genera _Murina_ and _Harpyiocephalus_ of Gray

1873.] Dobson — On Murina and Harpy iocephalus. 107 'Icannot ascertain how the Sarban stone found its way into the museum. It has been there for several years, and the inscription on it is very much abraded and cut up, and the Pundit has had agreat deal of trouble in decyphering it." 'When these stones were originally set up, Naraina was, as you will perceive, called Narain, and Sarban Sarbal. Delhi was also then known as Dhilli, and not Dehli and Dilli as now written and pronounced. 'The two wells to which these inscriptions relate appear to have been built by banias—and members of the same family within six months of each other, and during the reign of Muhammad-bin Tughluq in the Samvat year 1381, or A. D. 1327. 'Naraina is 7miles S. W. of Delhi, and Sarban is 5miles south of Delhi. The two villages are six miles apart from each other. The following papers were read — 1. On the Genera Murina and BZarpyiocephalus of Gray,—By G. E. Dobson, B. A., M. B., Staff Surgeon BZ. M's British Forces. The Genus Murina was formed, in 1812, by Dr. J. E. Gray for the reception of Yespertilio suillus, Temm. which was shown to possess characters generically distinct from other species of Chiroptera, and later Vespertilio karpia, Pallas, was made the type of anew genus BZarpyiocephalus by the same author. These species remained the sole representatives of their respective genera till last year when two new species of Murina were added M. yrisea, Hutton, and M. cyclotis, Dobson,—and asecond species of BZarpyiocephalus, from the North-Western Himalaya was described by Dr. W. Peters under the name of BZ. BZuttoni. The genus BZarpyiocephalus is distinguished from Murina according to Dr. Gray* by having the wing-membrane attached to the base of the toes while in the latter genus it extends along the toe as far as the base of the claw ;also by the hairiness of the feet and interfemoral membrane, and by the possession, in adults, of asingle premolar only, in the upper jaw. Ilately described anew species of Murina—M. cyclotis—which presents characters peculiar to both genera as given by Dr. Gray. It so resembles BZarpyiocephalus harpia, Pallas, in the peculiar form of the nostrils, and the distribution, quality and even colour of the fur as to appear on asuperficial examination to be an immature specimen of that species. But while thus agreeing generally with BZ. harpia, it differs in having the wing membrane attached to the base of the claws instead of to the base of the toes, and so belongs equally to both genera. This convinced me that the distinctions enumerated by Dr. Gray were not sufficient to separate these species *Synopsis of the genera of VespertilionidcB and Noctilionidce ;Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. 1866, p. 66. 108 Dobson — On Murina and Harpyiocephalus. [Mat, into different geneva, and as the name 'Murina'' had the priority of Harpyiocephalus Iplaced the new species in the former genus. Iwas obliged to defer publishing these remarks till Ishould have had an opportunity of examining skeletons of both species. Meanwhile Ireceived Dr. Peters's paper with descriptions of two of the species referred to above in which he adds that it is scarcely possible any longer to maintain. Harpyiocephalus and Murina as distinct genera ;he does not, however, unite them, probably for the same reason. An examination of the skeletons of Murina cyclotis, and Harpyiocephalus harpia has confirmed the opinion previously formed of their affinity. The chief differences are to be found in the skulls, the remaining parts of the skeletons of both species corresponding in all respects. Compared with M. cyclotis, the skull of H. liarpia is much shortened in front of the anterior origin of the zygoma, the distance between the infraorbital foramen and the inner incisor being the same in both skulls, though their respective lengths are as 10 :12. This shortness of the muzzle in H. harpia diminishes the length of the tooth-row and leaves no room for the third molar which is constantly absent in adult animals, probably pushed out by the growth of the other teeth. These might be regarded as important differences, were it not that two authors have mentioned the presence of an additional tooth in the young animal, and in Dr. Peters's description of H. Huttonii, athird molar is referred to. The mandible of H. harpia is also, correspondingly shortened, and the teeth are crowded between the canine and the anterior edge of the coronoid process ;the third molar is much smaller than the second, and being placed on the commencement of the ascending ramus is elevated by its longest cusp above the others. The teeth in M. cyclotis are very similar to those in Hliarpia, both upper premolars are large and bear about the same proportion to the canines and molars as they do in that species, agreeing in this respect with M. grisea, lately described by Dr. Peters,* but differing remarkably from M. suillus in which the first upper premolar is much smaller than the second which equals the canine in vertical extent. In H. harpia, the skull is proportionately more swollen and elevated between the centres of the zygomatic arches than in M. cyclotis, and the sagittal crest much more developed ;the bases of the skulls are very similar, the only difference observable being the greater backward prolongation of the palate bones behind the molar teeth in H. harpia, but this is perhaps more apparent than real as the absence of the third molar adds to the length. *Monatsber. Berlin Akacl, April 1872, p. 288. 1873.] Dobson — On Marina and Harpyioccphalus. 109 The mandibles in both species have astriking generic resemblance in the elevation of the coronoid process above the condyle. In H. harpia the eoronoid process is probably more developed than in any other species of bat, and its outer surface is deeply hollowed out for the insertion of muscles. Its shape is very similar to that of the common Dog, but proportionately to the length of the jaw it is much more developed. Corresponding to this great development of the coronoid process of the mandible, the teeth are very stout and thickly coated with enamel ;the cusps of the molar are short and blunt and the canines much thickened, the small incisors even presenting the same peculiarity. In M. cyclotis, the coronoid process is considerably elevated above the condyle, and its external surface is deeply hollowed, but its general form is triangular, not rounded as in the forxuer species. The molars are stout and their cusps not so acute as in other species of Yeapertilionidce, resembling most those of H. harpia. The peculiar form of the teeth of S. harpia is evidently connected with the nature of the food of the animal. The stout bluntly pointed teeth, well coated with enamel, are admirably adapted to crush the hard cases of coleoptera, especially of the larger kinds which abat of the size of this species might be expected to capture. In the stomach of one examined by me the crushed cases of some species of these insects were found in abundance. As we become better acquainted with the habits of these animals, it will probably be found that the food of this species is restricted to certain species of coleoptera possessing extremely hard cases which would effectually resist the feebler though more acutely pointed teeth of other bats inhabiting the same localities. The form of the teeth, the great development of the coronoid process and shortness of the mandible, are all evidently subservient to the same object, and have become modified simultaneously to suit the food of the animal. The teeth of the Asiatic and African Elephants differ much more remarkably than do the teeth of some species of bats belonging to very distinct families, and yet few zoologists venture to place them in different genera. Professor Flower has well remarked that there is "too much importance attached to the characters of the teeth, their modifications depending on adaptation mainly, and not essentially indicative of affinity."* The conjoined genera, united under the common name Marina, contain five species, enumerated above, of which M. harpia and M. suillus are most widely separated. These form avery natural group, readily distinguished from all other genera of Vespertilionidce by the peculiarly shaped projecting nostrils taken in connection with the dental formulas. *Proc. Zool. Sue. Loud. 1869, p. 5. HO Dobson — On the Asiatic species of Molossi. [May Note. —In ashort paper, containing notes on some species of Chiroptera collected by Mr. Theobald in Burma, published by me in the 'Proceedings' for August, 1872, 1 mentioned that Ihad obtained specimens of Cynonycteris amplexicaudatus, Geoff, from North-Western India. Ihave since learned from Mr. W. T. Blanford, who sent me these speoimens, that Ihave given awrong locality for them, as they were taken by him in the Nernakduu Salt Caves, Kishnu Island, in the Persian Gulf. The mistake in the locality, referred to above, was due to the label sent by Mr. Blanford having been misplaced after the receipt of the specimens. In the Pi-oceedings for December last Idescribed anew species of Vespertilio, collected by Captain W. G. Murray in Kashmir, under the name of V. macropus. 1 discovered since, quite accidentally (as there is no copy of the "Mammals of Australia" in Calcutta,) that this name had been used for an Australian bat by Mr. Gould and consequently cannot be again employed. Ipropose, therefore, for this new species the name Vespertilio longipes. 2. On the Asiatic species of Molossi. —By G. E. Dobson, B. A.,M. B. (Abstract.) The paper commences with an account of the distribution of the species of this very remai'kable and well defined group. The Molossi are divided into five genera, of which two only, Nyctinomus and Chiromeles, are found in the continent of Asia and its islands. By far the greater number of species belong to the genus Molosstts, and are confined to the Western Hemisphere. Two new species of Nyctinomus are described, one from Bengal and the Panjab, A7", tragatus, and one from China, A7", insignis. The former resembles A7", plicatus, Buch. Ham. very closely in size and in general aspect, but differs in possessing amuch larger tragus, in the development of the ears and in the place of attachment of the wing membrane ;the latter, a lar^e species, had been named by Mr. Blyth in his Catalogue of the Mammals in the Museum of the Asiatic Society, but not described. The number of Asiatic species of Molossi described prior to 1873 were three one Chiromeles and two Nyctinomi, and to these three more are added, making sis the total number now known. The paper will appear in the Journal. 3. On Rhopalorhynclms Kroyeri, anew genus and species of Pycnogomdce.—By J. Wood-Mason, Esq. The paper will appear in Journal Part II, No. 3, 1873. 4. Note regarding certain type specimens of Batrachia in the Asiatic Society's Museum.—By W. Theobald, Esq. The passage Iwish to draw attention to in apaper of Dr. J. Anderson in the P. Z. S. of London for February, 1871, is the following :"It will be