MYONYCTERIS, 



57? 



Dentition (figa. 46, 47). 



c ]j' p^ p' m' m- x2=34.* 



. h c Px P3 P. I" I m, ni3 

 Upper incisors terete, acutely pointed, slightly curved, narrowly 

 spaced ; lower incisors slightly but quite distinctly hilobed. 

 Canines shorter and thinner than in Cynopterus (in M. ht-achy- 

 cephala unusually short), moderately curved, cingulum narrow, 

 p^ rudimentary, in hasal section equal to an upper incisor ; p^ small 

 hut larger than p\ p'', m\ p^, and m^ shorter antero-postcriorly 

 than in typical Rouseltus. m^ reduced almost to a rudiment, 

 subcircular or elliptical in outline, varying in the different species 

 from about twice, to scarcely more than, the bulk of p^ ; m, 

 markedly reduced, from one-half to one-third the bulk of m^. m^ 

 rudimentary, subcircular or elliptical, smaller than m". 



Palate-ridges. — 4-f-3-|-2 (eighth and ninth ridges close together at 

 palation rim). Arrangement of ridges very nearly the same as in 

 Rouaettus (see fig. 29 A, p. 485). 



External characters. — Muzzle much shorter than in Eousettus, 

 centre of eye about midway hetween nostril and anterior base of 

 ear. Nostrils more prominent than in Rousettus, hut not quite as 

 much so as in Cynopterus. Eyes relatively larger than in Rousettus, 

 very nearly as in Cynopterus. Ears short (reaching eyes if pressed 

 forward), narrowly rounded off above ; autitragal lobe distinct, 

 acutely triangular. Tail as in Rousettus and Cynojjterus, rather 

 more than half the length of hind- foot with claws. Calcar weaker 

 than in Rousettus. Wing-membranes from sides of back and first 

 phalanx of second toe ; vertical fasciae of mesopatagium (those 

 crossing main internal cutaneous line) in M. torquata about 15. 

 Third, fourth, and fifth metacarpals suhequal, though with a 

 tendency of the third to remain the longest ; second phalanx of 

 third digit shorter than metacarpal ; second phalanx of fourth and 

 fifth digits generally a little longer than first phalanx. The follow- 

 ing table shows the wing-indices of Myonycteris calculated from 

 six adult individuals representing all species (upper row) and 

 those of the typical Ethiopian species of Rousettus for comparison 

 (lower row) : — 



* In one of the .skulls examined {M. lepfodon, S ad., teeth unworn, type of 

 species) an extremely small inS is present on botli sides. In .inother {M. ttrachy- 

 cephala, 2 yg, ad., type of species) the middle pair of lower incisors "is 

 represented by a .single tooth entirely filling out the space between i^-io. 



A specimen of Mi/onyc(eris in the collection (c? ad. al., skull extracted, teeth 

 unworn, locality unknown, presented by Lieut. Strickland, 50.8.29.1) shows 

 no trace of ni3,m- is present only on the right side and so exceedingly minute a.s 



2i'' 



