204 rXEKOPUS RUFUS EUFU8. 



The two subspecies described below do not differ appreciably in 

 colour. 



Haw/e. Madagascar. 



Ilahits. — Bats of this species are particularly common in the 

 coast regions of Madagascar. They usually pass the day in the 

 thickets of isolated islets near the coasts, suspended from the upper 

 branches of tall trees ; observers agree that even in broad daylight 

 a colony of Ft. rufus is difficult to approach, they generally become 

 restless, many taking to flight with shrill cries, others climbing 

 about from branch to branch, using the long claw on their -wings as 

 -well as their hind feet. Early in the evening they may be seen 

 passing at considerable heights, flock upon flock with short in- 

 tervals, on their way from the sleeping-places to the feeding- 

 grouuds. Their flight is straight, steady, somewhat crow-like, 

 though rather heavier and with more frequent flappings of the 

 wings. Skimming over water they often dip down to touch the 

 surface. They feed chiefly on wild dates, on which they grow 

 immensely fat. Large numbers are killed by the natives for food. 



Subspecies. — Two, differing in size only ; the one (rufus) dis- 

 tributed over North and Central Madagascar, the other {princess) 

 known from the extreme south of the island. 



Ke)j to the Subspecies of Pteropns rufus. 



a. Averaging smaller : skull, total length 69-74, 



forearm 158-5-lGo-5 mm. (N. and C. 



Madagascar) Pt. r. rtifiis, p. 204. 



h. Averaging larger : skull about 77, forearm 



170-5 mm. (3. Madagascar) Ft. ?: princeps, p. 208. 



28 a. Pteropus rufus rufus, E. Geoff. 



Fany, Flacowt, Hist, de Madagascar, p. 166 c. fig. (animal) (1658). 

 Great Bat from Madagascar, Edwards, Nat. Hist. Birds, pt. iv. p. 180, 



pi. 180 (head, life size; animal, much reduced) (17-51). 

 Vespertilio facie canina, Klein, Quadr. Disposifio, p. 62 (1751). 

 Vespertilio vampyrus (pt.), Linn. Syst. Nat. 10 ed. i. p. 31 (1758) ; 



id., op. cit. 12 ed. i. p. 46 (1766) ; Boddaert, Flench. Anim. i. p. 68 



(1785). 

 Pteropus vampyrus, HUger, Abh. Akad. Bei'liii, 1804-11, pp. 78, 84 



(1815: E. African Islands). 

 Temate Bat (pt.), Pennant, Syn. Quadr. p. 359 (1781). 

 Vespertilio caninus (pt.), Blumenbach, Hnndb. Naturq. 6 ed. p. 73 



(1797). 

 Pteropus rufus, E. Geoffrey, Cat. Mamm. Mus. Nation. d'Hist. Nat. 



p. 47 (1803 : Madagascar). 

 Pteropus edward.si, E. Geojfroy, Ann. Mus. d'Hist. Nat. xv. p. 92 



(1810: Madagascar); t'uvier, Reggie Anim. i. p. 123 (1817: 



Madagascar); Des7narest, Mamm. i. p. 109, no. 138 (1820: 



Madagascar); Schinz, Thierr. i. p. 154 (1821: Madagascar); 



Lesson, Man. Mamm. p. 109, no. 278(1827: Madagascar); 



Destnarest, Did. Sci. Nat. xlvi. p. 359 (1827 : Madagascar) ; 



Gi-ay, hi Griffith's Anim. Kingd. v. p. 55, no. 154 (1827 : Mada- 

 i gascar) ; Is. Gcofroi/, Diet. Class. d'Hist. Nat. xiv. p. 699 (pt.) 



