annvx (8 species), caniccjis (3), rafus (5 species, 6 iorms),mehinotiis 

 (5 species), melanopogon (4), ratjneri (6), lomOocemis (4), samoensis 

 (3), padaphon (G), teumuncld (3), vampyras (5 species, 11 forms), 

 «Zerfo (4 species), mnspicillatus ('i), ncohihernicm (2), 9?ia(To;i»- (3), 

 and scapulatus groups (2). — From a broader point of view these 

 seventeen groui)s may be classed in three primary sections, as 

 follows : — (1) The first six groups, the I't. hypoimlanns, marhmmis, 

 caniceps, rufus, inelaiiotm, and inelano/togon groups (altogether 

 41 species, 52 forms, thus almost exactly half the number of 

 known forms), are chiefly characterized by the typical Pteropine 

 slcull and dentition (posterior basal ledges of premolars distinct) ; 

 the large mujority of species are short-furred and naked-legged ; 

 and they cover practically the whole Pteropine area with exception 

 of the Himalayas, India, and Ceylon. (2) The second section, 

 the Ft. rnyncri, lombocensis, sdmoeiisis, pselapJion, and tennnlncJri 

 groups (22 species), accords with the first in having distinct, or 

 even unusually strong, posterior basal lodges in the jn-enjolars, but 

 the rostrum is always shortened and the dentition modified, either 

 by reduction of m^, nr, and i,, or by enlargement of i^ and p,, or 

 the whole of the dentition is noticeably (sometimes even excessively) 

 weakened; nearly all species are hairy-legged; and they range 

 over the whole of Austro-Malaya, Polynesia, and Micronesia, being 

 represented also in the Mascarenes ; but are unknown from the 

 whole of the Oriental region, except the Philippines (one species). 

 (3) The third section, the Ft. vampyrus, alccio, consptcillaius, neo- 

 Jiibernicus, macrotis, and icapulalns groups (19 species, 25 forms), 

 is characterized by the practically complete obliteration of the 

 posterior basal ledges of the cheek-teeth ; the skuU is tyiiical 

 Pteropine (except in a few species with degenersite dentition) ; all 

 species but one are naked-legged and short-furred ; they range over 

 the whole of the Oriental region (being the only section represented 

 in the Himalayas, Ijidia, and Ceylon) and Austro-Malaya, as far 

 east as the Solomon Islands, extending also to Australia ; but is 

 unrepresented in Polynesia, Micronesia, and the Malagasy region. 



Fteropus^ Brisson ; 1762. — Three species were "included by 

 Erisson in his genus Fteropus ; the first headed " Fteropm,'' the 

 second '■ Pteropus culh riihro;' and the third " Fleropus auricuUs 

 patulis;' The first species, as being evidently considered by 

 Brisson the Pteropus, must technically be taken as the type of the 

 genus, on the tautology princii)le. It is marked in Brisson's book 

 with two asterisks (indicating it as a species examined by the 

 author himself in the Koaumur Museum), diagnosed " Pteropus 

 rufuK aut niger, aiiriculis brevibus aeutiusculis " ( tlie last throe woids 

 absolutely excluding Ft. vcmpyrun), and stated to occur in the 

 island of Bourbon ( Reunion) ; these facts are evidence that Brisson 

 had before him a Ft. niger, Kerr (Ft. vulyco-is, E. Geoff. J, not a 

 Jt. vampyrus. But, as might be expected, Brisson places in the 

 synonymy of the lieunion spc(;ies also references to Seba's Can-is 

 I'olaits Ter)iutatin.i orientalis (which is Ft. vampyms) and Linne's 

 VespertUio cnuda nvlht (l)ased on Seba), and therelore gives as 



