PTEROPrS NATALIS. 233 



and rump. Longest hairs of back approximately 18, mantle 20, 

 belly 20 mm. Distribution of fur as in Pt. melanotus. 



Colour. — Whole series examined (adult males and females, 

 skins) : — General colour uniform blackish above and beneath ; 

 mantle and middle of breast and belly not differing from rest of 

 pelage. Sides of rump in most specimens more or less distinctly 

 washed with dull vandyck-brown or mars-brown (in one specimen 

 with ochraceous), this tinge occasionally extending forward on 

 sides of back along membranes, and sometimes detectable also in 

 the colour of the glandular hairs on 1 ho sides of the neck. 



Measurements. On pp. 235, 236. 



Specimens examined. Seven, from the collections of the U.S. 

 National * and Bri1;ish Jiluseums, including one cotype of species. 



Range. Engano (and Pulo Dua, off S.E. Engano). 



Coti/pes in the Genoa (one) and British Museums (one). 



Ilahits. — In November 1904 Dr. W. L. Abbott found this species 

 common in Engano, less common in the small islet of Pulo Dua, 

 about one mile south-east of Engano. It was feeding on wild fruit, 

 but did not frequent the cocoa-nut trees. 



a. 2 ad. al. ; skull. Bua-Bua, Engano; Marquis G. Doria [P.]. 91.1.7.1. 

 June, 1891 (jDi-. li. {Cotype of species.) 



Modiyliani). 



37. Pteropus natalis, Thos. 



Pteropus natalis, Thomas, P. Z. S. 1887, p. 511 f, pi. xli. (animal) 

 (Christmas I.) ; Lister, Nature, xxxvii. p. 20.3 (1887 : Christmas 

 I.) ; id., P. Z S. 1888, p. 616 (Christmas I.); Thomas, torn. cit. 

 p. 532 (Chi'istmas I.) ; Ridley, J. Straits Brayich P. As. Soc. 

 no. 23, pp. 128, 130 (1891 : Christmas I.; habits); Trouessart, 

 Cat. Ma?nm. i. p. 81 (1897 : Christmas I.) ; Andreics, Mon. 

 Christmas 1. p. 23, fig. 7 (skull), pi. i. (animal) (1900: habits) ; 

 Miller, Fam. 4' Gen. Bats, p. 58 (1907). 



Pteropus (Spectrum) hypomelanus I. natalis, Matschie, Megackir. 

 p. 26 (1899). i. natalis, Trouessart, Cat. Mamm., Stipjil. p. 52 

 (1904 : Christma.s I.). 



Large P'riiit Bat, Andrews, Geogr. Journ. xiii. p. 32 (1899 : Christ- 

 mas I.). 



Diagnosis. — Allied to Pt. morlic/lianii, but smaller, M'ith shorter 

 cheek-teeth and much longer fur. Blackish or seal-brown above 

 and beneath, with or without a slight paler wash on the mantle. 

 Forearm 125-135 mm. Hah. Christmas I. (Indian Ocean). 



SJcull. — General characters of skull as in Pt. niodiglianii, but 

 size much smaller : total length 54-5-5G mm., against 61*5-67 in 

 Pt. niodiglianii ; size of orbits (diameter contained 5'l-5"25 times 

 in total length of skull) slightly larger than in Pt. niadicus and 

 melanotus (5'4-5*55 times), but not (juite as large as in Pt. modi- 

 f/lianii (4-75-5-0 times). 



Teeth. — Differing from those of Pt. niodiglianii in the following 

 particulars : — Canines heavier at base, and more recurved ; cingulum 



• U.S. N.M. no?. HWTS, 80, 81, 80. 81, 85. 

 t MiFprinteil Ft. mfh.s on p. 512. 



