Rhinolophus ferrum-equinum Schreb.

Andersen, Knud, 1905, On some Bats of the Genus Rhinolophus, with Remarks on their Mutual Affinities, and Descriptions of Twenty-six new Forms., Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 2, pp. 75-145 : 106-110

14. Rhinolophus ferrum-equinum Schreb.

(Plate IV. figs. 14, 15.)

Diagnosis. Sella pandurate, p2 completely external or wanting. Ears more than 20 mm. Width of horse-shoe less than 0 mm. Forearm 52 ’ 8-63 mm.f Details. The ferrum-equinum type originated from a Bat in all

essential points similar to Rh. affinis . It agrees with the now existing affinis in the pandurate sella and the prolongation of III.-. But it is considerably higher-developed, chiefly in the following respects: (1) the dentition; (2) the wing-structure; (3) the length of the tail; (4) the beginning, or complete, reduction of the lateral mental grooves; (5) the general size.

The peculiar prolongation of the second phalanx of the third finger, described above under Rh. affinis , is preserved in Rh.ferrumequinum : III.2 is more than (or, extremely rarely, at least equal to) 4 the length of III.. Also IV.2 is lengthened, i.e. more than 4 of IV.1; it is an interesting fact that, in this particular point, Rh.ferrum-equinum (all races) agrees with Rh. affinis himalayanus, but not with any of the other races of affinis . Besides these two characters, which are simply inherited from an afmis-like ancestor, there is an important modification in another part of the wing, to which we have no parallel in any of the foregoing forms ®, viz. a change in the proportionate length of the third, fourth, and fifth metacarpals, as shown in the subjoined table: —

This table shows:—(1) In all the foregoing "21 forms or this group the fourth metacarpal is but very little longer than the third (24 mm., for a supposed length of forearm of 1000 mm.), and the fifth metacarpal is practically of the same length as the fourth t. (2) In ferrum-equinum a considerable shortening of the third metacarpal has taken place; at the same time a much smaller reduction of the fourth metacarpal has occurred, so as to make the fifth metacarpal, slightly but decidedly, the longest of all.

The tail is proportionately longer than in the foregoing species, being, on an average, in the eastern races of ferrum-equiwum ( nippon , tragatus , regulus') exactly lj, in the typical form 14, the length of the lower leg, whereas proXimus, in this point (as well as geographically), is intermediate between the eastern and western races J.

In all the foregoing forms, without exception, there are three

vertical grooves on the front of the lower lip. In the eastern races of ferrum-equinum ( nippon , tragatus , regulus) sometimes exactly the same, but very often the lateral grooves are more or less reduced; in the western races (proXimus, typicus, obscurus) they have, as a rule, almost or quite disappeared *.

As to the general size, the eastern races are, as it seems, always larger than any form of affinis ; proXimus and typicus at least on an average so; while obscurus is nearly of the same size as affinis himalayanus.

The remaining external characters need only a brief record:—

The supplementary leaflet is slightly more reduced than in affinis , and more closely united to the upper lip; this latter iff is (more than the reduction) which makes it less distinctly visible. The posterior connecting process is more lengthened in anteroposterior direction, also a little more projecting, but quite rounded off at the summit. But, curiously enough, in one specimen (from Transcaspia) I find the process quite as in affinis (in all other specimens from W. Asia it is normal). The lancet has a marked tendency towards assuming a hastate shape, rather than a cuneate, the extreme tip being, generally, long and slender; but sometimes, and both in the eastern and western races (though more often in the former), individuals are found in which the lancet is almost cuneate, as in affinis .— These two individual variations are worth noticing, as, both of them, pointing back to affinis .

The ears are somewhat modified: more attenuated below the tip, and more pointed.

The plagiopatagium is inserted on the tarsus, on the base of the metatarsus, or about 1 mm. above the ankle-joint. But in one individual (from Cyprus) it is inserted no less than 6 mm. in front of the ankle-joint. It, again, recalls Rh. affinis .

Colour. A small series of skins from Tessin, Switzerland, affords some information as to the difference in colour dependent on the age of the individuals; all the specimens are of the same sex, from the same locality, and the same month: —

greyish “ drab, ” lighter on the head and neck; base of hairs “ ecru7 drab ”; a strongly marked, dark brown horse-shoe patch; under side almost “ ecru-drab ” on throat and breast, very light “ drab ” on belly.

(2) One (female, December); teeth almost unworn; must be very nearly of the same age as (1) Intermediate in colour between (1) and (3), but nearer to (3).

(3) Three aged individuals (females, December); teeth worn; two of them are at least 4 years old, the third (teeth very much worn) still older: — Upper side, a shade of brown which might be described as “ mars-brown ” with a pronounced tinge of “ drab ”; base of hairs light “ ecru-drab ”; scarcely any indication of a. horse-shoe patch; under side light “wood-brown ” with a tinge of “ ecru-drab. ”

In a series from the Hautes-Pyrénées (January) I find the same differences in coloni1, but have not been able to verify the comparative age of the individuals by means of the skulls.

Three skins from Minorca (spring) are like the aged Swiss individuals or, if anything, a trifle lighter. The teeth are worn, showing the animals to be, probably, at least about two years old.

Skins of aged individuals from England are indistinguishable from Swiss specimens of a like age. A very young (not fullgrown) example from Somerset is quite like the younger (greyishdrab) individuals from Switzerland.

As a general conclusion: young individuals are, broadly speaking, dark grey, old individuals brown; the coloni1 of the young animal is retained, at least in some individuals, till December, beyond the time when the epiphyses of the metacarpals have become ossified. For those who have an opportunity to watch these Bats in the ca ves during the winter, it would be an object of some interest to ascertain how the colour-change is effected, by a moult or by a recolouring of the hairs.

Skull. The essential characters as in Rh. affinis , the general shape hardly different, but as a rule, of course, the skull is larger. The four anterior swellings are slightly more differentiated; the median ones almost circular in outline, the lateral ones oblong. Chief character: the much longer palatal bridge: very nearly | the length of the maxiliar tooth-row, a little more or less, but never so short as 1/4 the tooth-row (as in affinis ).

Dentition. p3 external and exceedingly small, or, very often, lost. also in younger individuals. p2 and p4 in contact, p2 completely eXternal, extremely small, not rarely lost, also in younger individuals. Upper canine and p4 not only in contact, but their cingula, as a rule, considerably overlapping each other (the cingula of p 4 being external to that of the canine).

Measurements. On p. 115.

Distribution. From S. China and Japan, through the Himalayas, the Mediterranean Subregion (exclusive of Egypt), and Central Europe to S. England.

Geographical races. There are, at least, six forms of Rh. ferrumequinum , three eastern ( nippon , tragatus , regulus), and three western (proXimus, the typical form, and obscurus). They are sufficiently differentiated to need technical names, but in no respect—in the external characters, in the skull, in the dentitionis there a sharp “hard-and-fast ” line between them:—

In the extreme east (S. China and Japan) we find a Bat ( nippon ) of moderate size and with rather small teeth; the dentition, too, has remained on a rather primitive stage of development; but the horse-shoe and nasal swellings are very broad. Some of these peculiarities, viz. the broad horse-shoe and nasal swellings, are preserved in the Central Himalayan tragatus , but the general size of the animal is increased, the skull and teeth very large, the dentition more highly developed. This latter character reaches a climax in the next form, regidus, from the N.W. Himalayas, but at the same time the horse-shoe and nasal swellings are markedly narrower; in this respect regulus evidently shows tendencies towards the western races, as also might be expected from its habitat. — The|e three Bats constitute what I call the “eastern”

races of ferrum-equinum . The geographical line separating them from the western races must be drawn somewhere between Masuri and Gileit, at the border between the Oriental and Palaearctic Regions. East of that line the individuals are generally larger, with broader horse-shoe; the lateral mental grooves not rarely fully developed; the tail on an average only | the length of the lower leg.

Passing from Masuri (still regulus) to Gilgit, on the extreme north-western, “ Palaearctic ” side of the Himalayas, we find a form (proXimus) with small and slender skull, narrower horseshoe and nasal-swellings; which give it a decidedly “ western ” aspect, and contrast it with its eastern neighbour, regulus; but it has retained the somewhat shorter1 tail characteristic of the eastern races. The typical form has got rid also of this reminiscence, but, as a matter of fact, also in this race now and then, though rarely, individuals occur which “fall back ” to the shorter-tailed eastern stage. The typical form leads to the generally smaller, extreme south-western race (obscurus: Spain, Algeria).

A closer study of these races, as compared with the Ethiopian h. augur and Rh. deckeni, will throw some light on the past history of the ferrum-equinum type (see the “General Remarks” on the simpleX group, below, p. 118).