PTEROPUS. 77 



1. SOTALIA GADAMU, Owen, sp. (1865). 



Beak rather short, equal in length to the distance between its 

 base and the eyes ; its apex obtuse. Lower jaw a little longer 

 than the upper. Blow-hole crescentic, situated on the middle of 

 the vertex between the eyes. Dorsal and pectoral fins falcate, 

 of nearly equal size. Body above dark plumbeous gray, almost 

 black on the fins; below pinkish ashy-gray with a few small 

 irregular blotches of light plumbeous gray. 



Dentition. g~ == 96 - 108. 



Dimensions. Total length about seven feet. 



Habitat. Indian and West Australian Seas. 



Reference. Owen, Tr. Z.S. vi. p. 17, pi. iii. figs. 1 and 2. 



Order III.-CHIROPTERA. 



Mammals with the fore limbs specially modified so as to adapt 

 them for flight. The fore arm consists of a rudimentary ulna, a 

 long curved radius, and a carpus of six bones, which supports a 

 thumb and four greatly elongated fingers, between which, the sides 

 of the body, and the hinder extremities the wing-membrane is 

 spread out. A peculiar elongated cartilaginous process, the cal- 

 caneum, which is rarely rudimentary or absent, rises from the 

 inner side of the ankle-joint, is directed inwards, and supports the 

 interfemoral membrane. Mammae thoracic. 



Suborder I Megachiroptera. 



Crowns of molar teeth smooth with a longitudinal furrow. 

 Bony palate narrowing slowly backwards, continued behind last 

 molar. Second finger generally terminating in a claw. Sides of 

 ear-conch forming a complete ring at the base. Pyloric extremity 

 of the stomach elongated. 



Habits. Frugivorous ; mellivorous ; anthophagous. 



Family I. -PTEROPODHLE. 



*/ 



Flying Foxes ; Fruit-eating Bats. 

 Characters similar to those of the Suborder. 



Genus I PTEROPUS, Brisson (1756). 



Size large or medium. Muzzle long, narrow, and cylindrical. 

 Nostrils projecting by their inner margins, the extremity of the 

 muzzle deeply emarginate between them. Tongue of moderate 

 length. Upper lip with a vertical groove in front, bounded 

 laterally by rounded naked ridges. Ears variable in size. Index 

 finger with a distinct claw. Metacarpal bone of middle finger 



