1890.] XATUR-VL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 15 



The presence of circumpalpebral hair of contrasting color with the 

 rest of the head, or of special patches of color about the eyes, which 

 contribute such conspicuous features in many other quadrupeds, ap- 

 pear to be absent in the Cheiroptera. An apparent exception may 

 be made in the instance of P. capistratus ; but in this species the hair 

 about the eyes embraces a wide region and if it receives the name 

 circumpalpebral, this word must be in a different sense from the one 

 previously employed in the essay on color-marks. 



The W'hite patches of hair at the base of the auricle and at the 

 shoulder which are so note-worthy in Epomophorus do not appear 

 to be generally retained. As already mentioned the clump last 

 named is a differentiation of that of the side of the neck. 



The enormous development of the wings dominates nutritive proc- 

 esses at the side of the body. With these changes the greater 

 development of the hair — coarse, as in Pteropus, or long and 

 soft, as in the order generally — appear to harmonize. The posi- 

 tion of the mamma at the side of the pectoral region also assists in 

 determining the tendencies to lateral developments if we can so con- 

 clude from the line of soft, long fur which is so commonly found be- 

 ginning about the mamma and extending down to the thigh. The 

 prebrachium is distinctly ventral in its relations (for the association 

 of the so-called occipito-pollical muscle in some forms, as in Molossus, 

 is more pectoral than napal) and the coloration of the base of the 

 skin-expanse naturally partakes of the shades of color of the chest 

 and abdomen. 



The woolliness of the hair at and below the anus and at the sa- 

 crum is not explicable. It may be in some way associated with the 

 generative acts. 



Pteropus edwardsii. 



An adult male. 



Crown paler than the back of neck ; it is narrowed to a point 

 between the eyes. 



Base of the auricle with a clump of dark brown (almost black) hair. 

 Directly in front of the auricle is a broad band of hair (the " whisk- 

 er") which unites the crown with the hair of the side of the neck. 



Oircum-palpebral patch black, faintly defined. 



Cheek-patch black, distinct. 



Labial hairs black, highly developed at the ricti. 



Post-mental patch black, distinct. 



