72fi MACRORI.OSSIX.'F.. 



the tongue papillsB in the differeut genera of PieropodincP (if minor 

 differences are taken into consideration, hnrdly two genera of the 

 subfamily are precisely alike in the surface structure of the tongue, 

 nor even all species of the larger genera, e. g. Ptcrop'is), but the 

 following general view of the more important raodificationa, based 

 on an examination of the tonguee of all the principal genera, may 

 not be out of place here : — 



Tlie simplest form of the Megachiroj)teran tongue is seen in 

 Vi/nontents (B) and some allied genera; the anterior extremity is 

 somewhat broadly rounded off, -without any trace of filiform papillre, 

 the conical papilht; extending right to the tip of the tongue ; the 

 filiform papillae laterally at the base of the tongue are well-developed ; 

 ilie tridentate papillas as in Pteropus, though covering a relatively 

 shorter area; the posteiior circumvallate papilla about twice as 

 large as the anterior ones. This tyjie of tongue, essentially un- 

 changed or with only minor modifications {e.g. in the length of the 

 filiform pnpillse at the base of the tongue, the shape in detail of 

 the foliaceous papilla;, the size of the posterior circumvallate papilla, 

 &c.), reoccurs in Eidolon, Pteralo2^e.v, and DoJisonia. The tongue of 

 Iryctimene (A), though in other respects strikingl}' similar to that 

 of C\i/iiojjterus, ditiers in having four circumvallate papilhe, two in 

 front and two behind. The first faint tendency to a lengthening of 

 the ]i;ipillfe at the tip of the tongue is seen m Pousettu.^; in Epo- 

 iiiophorus and Hifpsiijnafhns they are so far lengthened (but only at 

 the extreme anterior margin of the tongue) as to be subfiliform, and 

 in Microptcropiis (Epomophoriiie group) they are real filiform papillie 

 (but, as probably always in Pterojioditur, with some fringes ne;ir 

 tlu; tip) and cover both the anterior margin of the tip of the tongue 

 and a small area of its dorsal surface ; finally, in Lissonj/ctcris and 

 even more so in StenonycUris (H) (both Ethiopian subgemRra of 

 Uoiiseltus) the filiform papill* are strongly developed and cover a 

 relatively considerable apace of the upper surface and lateral 

 margins of the tip of the tongue. 



The variations (so far as observed by the writer) may he briefly 

 epitomized as follows : — (1) Within the subfamily Plerojyodintr 

 there is every intergradation from a complete absence to a strong 

 development of filiform papillse at the tip of the tongue ; but, so far 

 as the available material goes, these filiform papilla?, even if con- 

 spicuously developed, are never entirely devoid of fringes (compare 

 (t with K, fig. Go, both papillae from the extremity of the tongue, 

 the former of Pteropus pseJapihon, the latter of the Macroglossine 

 Ponycteris spelcen, to show presence of " fringes " in the former, 

 absence in the latter) : (2) the filiform papillfB at the base of the 

 tongue are always present and always -fiithout fiinges, but vary 

 very consider, ibly in length and number (shortest in JS^i/ctinieiH', 

 Dnhsonut, Ptevalopex) : (3) part of the median area of the anterior 

 half of the toiigue is always covered with rigid tridentate papilla:', 

 but the relative size of that area varies greatly (it is smallest in 

 Eponioj>horitie bats, and among these smallest again in' Micro- 

 jiferopvs): (4) the number of circumvallate papilhe is three in all 



