CARNARIA. 77 



naked, and so extremely sensible that it is probable they guide them- 

 selves through all the siiiuosiLies of their labirynths, even after their 

 eyes have been plucked out, solely by the diversity of the impres- 

 sions of the air. They are nocturnal, and in our climate pass the 

 winter in a state of stupor. During the day they suspend them- 

 selves in obscure places. They generally produce two young ones 

 at a birth, which cling to their mammse, and whose size is con- 

 siderable in proportion to that of the mother. This genus is very 

 numerous, and offers many subdivisions. We must begin by sepa- 

 rating from it the 



Pteropus, Briss. 



Trenchant incisors in each jaw, and grinders with flat crowns ;(l) 

 the food, consequently, consists chiefly of fruit, of which it destroys 

 considerable quantities ; it also successfully pursues birds and small 

 quadrupeds. It is the largest Bat known, and the flesh is eaten. 

 It inhabits the East Indies. 



The membrane is deeply notched between the legs ; it has no 

 tail, or nearly none ; the index finger, which is but half the length 

 of the medius has a third phalanx, and a little nail which is want- 

 ing in the other Bats ; each of the following fingers, however, has 

 but two phalanges. The muzzle is simple, the nostrils are widely 

 separated, the ears are of a middling size, but without a tragus, and 

 the tongue is bristled with points that curve backwards j the sto- 

 mach is an elongated sac, unequally inflated. They have never been 

 found out of the south of Asia or the Indian Archipelago. 



a. Without tails ^ and four incisors in each jaw. (2) 



P. edulis, Geoff. (The Black Roussette.) Blackish brown, 

 deepest beneath, wings nearly four feet from tip to tip. From 

 the Moluccas and the straits of Sunda, where they are found in 

 great numbers during the day suspended to the trees. To pre- 

 serve fruit from their attacks, it is necessary to cover it with 

 nets. Their cry resembles that of the goose. They are taken 

 by holding to them a bag fastened to the end of a rod ; the flesh 

 is esteemed a delicacy by the natives, but Europeans dislike 

 it on account of its musky scent.(3) 



(1) The grinders have two longitudinal and parallel projections separated by a 

 groove, which wear away by attrition. 



(2) Linnaeus confounded them under his Vespertilio vampirus. 



(3) The Pter. Edwardsii of Geoff., Edw- 103, fawn-coloured, with a dark brown 

 back, is the young of this species. 



