TTEROPUS COMORENSIS. 209 



orbit 12-8-13-2 (13-8 14-6). Maxillary tooth-row, c-m% in ten 

 specimens 24-25'0 mm. (26--27'8 in five rtiftis) ; m' in 18 specimens, 

 length 5-5-5 (5-7-5-8 in six rufus), breadth 3-3-1 (3-1-3-6); m„ 

 length 4-5-4-9 (5-1-5-4), breadth 2-8-3-1 (3-1-3-2). For further 

 details sec measurements on p. 211. 



Ears. — Much smaller than in Pt. rufu/s, but not differing in 

 shape ; length from lower margin of orifice about 31-5 mm. (37-38 

 in rufus). 



Fur. — Distribution, qualitj', and length of fur as in Pi. rufus. 



Colour. — Three cJ ad. skins, teeth almost unworn, Mayotte, co- 

 types of species, 6.6.3.14-16 : — Back and rump blackish or blackish 

 seal-brown, very thinly sprinkled with silvery greyish-white hairs. 

 Head, mantle, and underparts as in Pt. rufus (p. 203). 



Specimens from Johanna, Moliilla, and Angazija do not differ 

 appreciablj- in colour. The blackish or blackish seal-brown colour 

 of the back fades almost invariably in the course of a few years to 

 vaudyck-brown, even in specimens not exposed to light. 



E.vlernal dimensions. — Smaller, at least on average, than 

 Pt. rufus rufus, with proportionally much shorter tibitc. Forearm 

 of twelve adults 151-157 mm. (158-5-165-5 in six adult ru/ws) ; 

 third metacarpal 99-105-5 (109-113); lower leg 68-72 (80-82); 

 foot with claws 47-50 (53-57). For details see measurements on 

 p. 210. 



Sj^ecimetis examined. Nineteen, in the collection of the British 

 Museum, including the cotypes of the species, and representing all 

 ihe islands from which the species has been recorded. 



Ranr/e. Comoro Islands : Mayotte, Johanna (Anjuan), Mohilla, 

 Angazija (Great Comoro). 



Cotijpes in collection. 



Pteropus comorensis, Nicoll ; 1908. — The name Pt. comorensis 

 seems to have been introduced into literature by Wallace in his 

 ' Island Life' (1880, I. s. c.) ; at least I have been unable to trace 

 the name further back ; neither in the first nor in the second 

 edition of that book (1892) does Wallace give any description ; he 

 appears to be unaware that he was using a new name for the 

 Comoro bat. Keller (1898, I. s. c.) probably copied the name from 

 Wallace. Nicoll admittedly (in litt. to the present writer) found 

 the name in Wallace's book atid, inadvertently, made it technically 

 valid by the following descriptive note : " its fur was of a reddish 

 colour, thick and soft " (1908, I. s. c. p. 88). 



«. <5 ad. sk ; Mayotte, Oomoros, sea- Earl of Crawford ft.6.3.1(>. 

 Bkull. level; 25 Feb. 1906 [P.]. 



(M. J. Nicoll). 

 i,/-. 2cJad. Bks.; Mayotte, 600' ; 2 Mar. Earl of Crawford 6.6.3.14,15. 

 skulls. 1906 (M. J. Nicoll). [P.]. 



(a-c, cotypes of species.) 

 d. ^ ad. al. Mayotte (M. J. Nicoll). Earl of Crawford 6.6.3.17. 



[P.]. 

 *. Imm. sk. ; Johanna I., Comoros. John Barrow, Esq. 53,5.27.1. 

 skuU. [P.]. 



