PTEROPUS RAVXERI. 253 



43. Fteropus rayneri, Gray. 

 Pleropus 7-apieri (pt.), Dobson, Cat. Chir. B. M. p. 33. 



Pteropus rayneri (pt.), Grat/, Cat. Monk. ^c. p. 108 (1870: Guadal- 

 canar; nee San Christoval) ; Dobson, I. s. c. (1878 : Guadalcanar) ; 

 Trouessart, Eev. ^ Mag. Zool. (3) vi.p. 204 (1879: Guadalcanar) • 

 id., Arm. Sci. Nat. (6) Zool. viii. Art. 12, p. 16 (1879 : remarks 

 on distr.) ; Thomas, P. Z. S. 1887, p. 322 (Guadalcanar) ; id., 

 P. Z. S. 1888, p. 472 (Aola, Guadalcanar) ; Trouessart, Cat. 

 Matmii. i. p. 78 (1897: Guadalcanar). 



Pteropus (Spectrum) rayneri (pt.), Matschie, Mecjachir. p. 22 (1899 : 

 Aola, Guadalcanar) ; Trouessart, Cat. Mamm., Supnl p 51 

 (1904: Guadalcanar). ^' 



Diagnosia. — Similar to Pt. cognaius, but rump much brigliter than 

 and contrasting with back. Eorearm 137-5-140-5 mm. ITab, 

 Guadalcanar, E. Solomon Is. 



Skitll and teeth.- — Skull similar to that of Ft. cognatus, though 

 perhaps slightly larger, and with the rostrum not quite so much 

 shortened (compare measurements, p. 257). Teeth scarcely 

 differing from those of the allied species. 



Palate-ridges (two specimens; S8.1.5.2, 3).— N'o special modi- 

 fications. Formula 5 + 5 4- 3. First ridge terminating laterally at 

 front of canine ; second at back of canine ; third at front of p' • fourth 

 at back of p^ ; fifth at middle of p^; sixth at front of m^ ; seventh 

 at hack of m' ; eighth at back of m^ ; ninth and tenth behind m'- ; 

 eleventh to thirteenth situated at palation border. 



Colour. — 5 ^^- skin, teeth slightly worn, December; cotype 

 of the species (56.7.7.4) : — Back uniform seal-brown with a slight 

 purplish gloss, rather more inclining to vandyck-brown laterally 

 along membranes, and posteriorly near rump. Kump and upperside 

 of femur much brighter than and contrasting with back, buffy clay 

 washed with ochraceous-buff anteriorly near back, and shadino- to 

 mars-brown on outer side of femur along membrane and upperside of 

 tibia. — Breast uniform seal-brown. Flanks vandyck-brown, shading 

 to mars-brown on belly, anal region, and underside of femur and 

 proximal part of tibia. — Mantle and occiput deep cinnamon-rufous 

 approaching rich russet, contrasting with seal-brown back, passing 

 through a darker shade on sides of neck, to vandyck-brown on .fore- 

 neck, the colour of this latter being scarcely different iu tinge from 



that of the flanks. Concealed base of fur of mantle seal-brown. 



Crown between Prout's brown and mars-brown, passing throuo-h a 

 darker shade on sides of head to almost seal-brown on chin and 

 throat, the colour of this latter very similar to that of the breast ■ 

 crown, sides of head, cliin, and throat sparsely sprinkled with silvery 

 white hairs. 



In the second cotype (same locality, sex, age, and month ; skin ; 

 55.11.7.7) the contrast between mantle and back, and back and 

 rump is less striking, owing to the darker tinge of the mantle and 

 rump : mantle approaching burnt-umber, rump pale russet with a 

 slight wash of clay. Underside as in the foregoing, but the seal- 

 brown colour restricted to the centre of the breast ; sides of breast 

 fianks, belly, and anal region uniform p.Tlc vandyck-brown. 



