226 PTERorcs melanotus. 



line of breast and belly sometimes tinged with pale drab; laterall)', 

 before merging into the blackish of the sides, this bright colour 

 generally shades into eiunamon-rufous or russet. Concealed base 

 of bright-coloured hairs blackish seal-brown.^ — Mantle much like 

 bright centre of breast and belly, varying individually from pale 

 ochraceous-buff, through tawny, to almost cinnamon-rufous ; even 

 the palest extreme (pale ochraceous-buff) is generally slightly 

 clouded with orangc-buiT, and shades posteriorly and anteriorly 

 (before merging into blackish back and blackish head) and laterally 

 (sides of neck) into tawny or cinnamon-rufous ; the dai'kest extreme 

 is almost cinnamon-rufous in the centre, shading in front, behind, 

 and on sides of neck into hazel or chestnut. No (or only ex- 

 tremely short) blackish bases to bright-coloured hairs. Foreneck 

 russet, often slightly mixed with, occasionally almost obscured by, 

 blackish hairs. — Crown, as far as liack of ears, generally blackish, 

 in strong contrast to bright mantle, but occasionally more or less 

 strongl}' tinged with russet. Sides of head, chin, and throat 

 blackish or seal-brown. 



No appreciable sexual difference in colour (six males, three 

 females, one skin of doubtful sex examined). 



Measurements. On pp. 230, 231. 



Specimens examined. Ten, from the collections of the Yienna 

 (one, cotype of Pt. incoharkits), U.S. National (five *), and Eritish 

 Museums. 



lianf/e. Nicobar Islands, the whole group. Specimens examined 

 from Car Nicobar, Tillanchong, Trinkut, and Great Nicobar. 



CoUfpes in the Calcutta Museum. 



Habits. — In Great Nicobar, early in March, 1901, Dr. W. L. 

 Abbott and Mr. C. B. Kloss found a colony of these bats, number- 

 ing several thousands, in mangroves on either side of a small river. 

 The surrounding atmosphere was impregnated with the musky 

 odour of their bodies. When disturbed they gave vent to a con- 

 tinuous " skirling " noise, somewhat like the song of cicadas, but 

 less shrill in tone. By nature they were very fearless, and the 

 majority merely stared inquisitively; a few spread their Avings and 

 flapped heavily away for a short distance, while others crawled 

 actively along the branches back downwards. All the females 

 carried, clinging to the breast, a young one of about one-third full 

 growth ; these the mothers hugged to themselves with a folded 

 wing, but when unsupported, the young found no difficulty in 

 maintaining its position, by means of its claws and its suction grip 

 on the ])arent's teat. When the latter crawled about the body was 

 supported in the membrane of the wing, which bagged slightly 

 'with the weight. The action of these bats when climbing a vertical 

 branch is similar to a man's in climbing up a pole. The wings are 

 first raised and a tight grip taken with the claw of the thumb, 

 then the feet are drawn up, and, after they obtain a hold, the 



* U.S. N, ]\r. nos. 111729 ami 111732 (Tillauciiong), 111738-10 (Great 



