PTKROPUS SAJfOfiNSIS. 287 



sprinkled with buffy-grey on back and rump, mixed golden bufFy- 

 grey and dark brownish on breast, belly, and flanks ; mantle, sides 

 of neck, and foreneck dark chestnut, approaching vaudj-ck-brown, 

 somewhat sprinkled with silvery grey ; head cream-buff, clouded 

 with blackish on muzzle. 



Measurements, On pp. 291, 292. 



Specimens examined. The British Museum material; photographs 

 of skulls of cotypes of species. 



Range. Samoa Is. : Savaii, Upolu, Tutuila, Manua. 



Cotypes in the U.S. National Museum (skins S594 (not found), 

 8596, 8597, skulls 22562, 37860, 37862). 



Habits. — Ft. samoensis is chiefly nocturnal, but maj' very fre- 

 quently be seen even at midday flying high in the air with a 

 slow and regular flap of the wing, not unlike a small heron, and 

 occasional short intervals of sailing (hence the native name " Manu 

 lagi " or " Manu langi," i. e. animal of the heavens ; its usual 

 native name is, however, " Pea " or " Peha"), When on wino- it 

 carries its legs stretched out behind, which makes it appear to have 

 a tail. It is very fond of the bread-fruit {Artocarpus incisa), of 

 which it destroys a great quantity, and as the bread-fruit trees are 

 chiefly about tiic villages, the natives kill a good many bats, partly 

 to protect the fruit, partly as an article of food. In addition to the 

 bread-fruit it feeds on the different species of bananas (chiefly 

 Musa chinensis), the Papaw apple ( Oarica papaya)., the Hog plum 

 {Spondlas dulcis), the Eugenia malaccensis, and the sweet oranges, 

 for which latter it appears to have a great liking. The natives 

 very easily tame tliis bat, " and after keeping it for a little time in 

 captivity they allow it to go at liberty, but it never leaves the house 

 and people it is accustomed to" (Whiimee). The quarrels of these 

 bats in the evening and night are accompanied by the most horrid 

 screeching noise. 



Ft. samoensis, Peale ; 1848. — Type locality, Tutuila I., Samoa 

 group. Photographs of the skulls and teeth of the three cotypes, 

 kindly sent me by Dr. Lyon, agree to the smallest details with the 

 British Museum specimens here referred to Ft. samoensis. 



Ft. ivhitmeei, Alston; 1874. — Based on an "adult" male (al.), 

 in the possession of the late Canon Tristram, obtained in the 

 Samoa Is. by the Eev. S. J. Whitmee. Alston considered this 

 specimen adult, and separated it from Ft. samoensis chiefly on 

 account of its smaller size. The figure, description, and measure- 

 ments leave no doubt that it is a j'oung (not full-grown) 

 Ft. samoensis. 



a. 2 imm. al. Samoa Is. Mus. Godeffroy. 74.10.6.7. 



/'. $ pull. sk. Samoa Is. Rev. S. J. Whitmee 78.1.25.1. 



[P.]. 

 c. Ad. sk. ; skull. Samoa Is. Canon H. B. Tristram 93.11.291 



[E.]. 

 (/. 2 iram. al. ; Samoa Is. R. Army Medical Col- 9.1.4 2. 



skull. lege [P.]. 



f. S imrn. f^k. ; Apia, Upolu, Samoa Earl of Crawford 3 5 27 1 



skull. T.S., 700'; 27 April, [P.]. 



1903. 



