_MAMMALOGY OF THE HIMALAYAS. Ixi 
Hodgson’s animal. The Pteropus pyrivorus, to judge from the short description given by Mr. 
Hodgson, appears to be less questionably a new species: it belongs to the second section of the genus, 
having a short tail, partly free, and partly enveloped in the membrane, and derives its specifie name 
from the depredations which it commits among the ripe pears in the central regions of Nepal. The 
migratory habits ascribed to these Pteropi are common to the Pteropus poliocephalus of New South 
Wales, and many other species of the same genus; for these large frugivorous Cheiroptera are essen- 
tially tropical in their habitats, and only visit more temperate climates during the summer and autumn 
heats, when the ripe fruits tempt them to wander from their native regions. They are consequently 
but occasional visitors to the higher elevations and latitudes of the globe ; and the Pteropus dasymallus 
and Pteropus pselaphon, which have been hitherto observed only in Japan, comparatively a high 
latitude for these animals, do not probably form an exception to the general law. 
Of the Insectivorous Cheiroptera, a family far more abundantly and extensively dispersed over the 
surface of the globe, Mr. Hodgson indicates only five species as natives of Nepal. Three of these are 
described as Vespertiliones, by the specific names of formosa, fuliginosa, and labiata, and two as 
Rhinolophi, by the names of armiger and tragatus respectively ; but without a more careful exami- 
nation and comparison with other species than Mr. Hodgson had it in his power to make, it is impos- 
sible to say how far these Bats may be distinct from, or identical with, species already described. One 
thing at least is certain, that the temperate and more elevated regions of the Himalayas must contain 
many species of Jnsectivorous Cheiroptera, still unknown or undistinguished, besides those enumerated 
by Mr. Hodgson ; it has been already observed, that this section of the family is very widely and 
generally distributed in temperate climates; and the rich harvest which has attended the researches of 
British naturalists, within the last few years, in their own country, ought to stimulate our Indian 
brethren to a pursuit which cannot fail to be rewarded by still more extensive discoveries. It would be 
extremely interesting, for example, to procure a complete series of Himalayan Bats, with the seasons, 
temperatures, and elevations at which they were captured carefully noted down, so as to compare 
them with analogous species of higher latitudes, and thus ascertain what law of succession the different 
forms may follow, or within what limits they may be confined in respect to temperature, in their 
geographical distribution over the surface of the earth. Speaking of these Jnsectivorous Bats, Mr. 
Hodgson observes, that “they are neither migratory nor subject to hibernation ;” two properties which 
in more northern climates would be considered incompatible with one another, and which even in the 
central regions of the Himalayas require a very careful revision before they can be admitted as established 
facts. I am not aware that these animals ever migrate in any climate; hibernation is the resource 
which nature has provided to preserve them during the season when their natural food disappears ; and 
it is the general opinion, that even within the tropics, the Insect-feeding Bats go to ‘sleep at certain 
seasons, as they do throughout the winter in more northern latitudes : should the fact be otherwise, 
it would prove a highly interesting addition to our knowledge of their habits ; but it is possible that 
Mr. Hodgson may have been led into error, by the casual appearance of a few individuals during an 
occasional fine evening, as sometimes occurs in Britain even in the depth of winter. The subject is well 
worth the attention of Indian Zoologists. 
INSECTIVORA. 
Ascending gradually from the frugivorous Cheiroptera of the Plains of India, fia visit thi. hills os | 
only during the summer heats, through the insectivorous genera of the same family, which remain = : : 
throughout the whole year, we next come to the Insectivora, properly so called; a family which 2 . au 
belongs almost exclusively to the temperate regions of the earth ; and of which it is therefore extremely aoe 
es: 
