PTKRoriDj;. 9!' 



Pacific Oceans. There is a general similarity in the colouring; and 

 specimens found in the same locality or island often vary consider- 

 ably from one another, even when examination of the skull and teeth 

 shows that thej- are one species. On the other hand, specimens from 

 very different locaUties often resemble one another so much in their 

 external colouring that it is difficult to distinguish them in any descrip- 

 tion that can be given ; but when the skull and teeth are examined, 

 they prove to be veiy distinct species. Under these circumstances 

 the locality is an important character in determining the species. 

 This observation is applicable to other families of Bats ; indeed the 

 species of these animals are so imperfectly known, and the material 

 in the Museums is so imperfect, that the best one can attempt to do 

 is to get what is contained in the Museum into groups, leaving suc- 

 ceeding naturalists to determine if they are species or varieties. 



Many of the characters given by Temmiuck and others as cha- 

 racteristic of the species depend on the art or want of talent of the 

 preserver. 



Synopsis of Teibes and Gteneua. 



Section A. Tcvth 34. True f/riitders | , hinder small. Fahe grinders f ; 

 front minute, often deciduous. 



Tribe I. Ptehopina. Cutting-teeth | ; lower in a regular scries. Tail 

 none. Gland of penis bong. 



1. Spectrum. Head round ; face narrow. Ears small, hidden. Wings 



from the sides of the hairy back. 



2. Pteropus. Head elongate ; face broad. Ears exposed. Wings from 



the sides of the back. Back hairy. 



3. Eunycteris. Head elongate ; face broad. Ears exposed. Wings 



only attached to the vertebral line; the part over the back bald, or 

 nearly so. 



Tribe II. Macroglossina. Cutting-teeth i ; luu-cr in a regular series. 

 Tail-end free. Gland of penis fleshy. 



* Face verg long, slender. Cutting-teeth isolated, in an arched series. 

 Grinders compressed, small. 



4. NoTOPTERis. Wings only attached to the vertebral line. Part over 



the back bald. Head very long; face slender. Tail very long. 

 False grinders none. 



5. Macroglossus. Wings from the sides of the hairy back. Head very 



long ; face very slender. Tail short. False grinders }, compressed. 



** Face hroad. Cutting-teeth in a transverse series. Grinders thick. 



6. Xantharpyia. Wings from the sides of the hairy back. Head elon- 



gate ; face tapering. Grinders far apart in front. Fur short, ad- 

 pressed. 



7. Eleuthertra. Wings from the .sides of the haiiy back. Head 



elongate ; face broad. Grinders close together. Fur soft, spreading. 



Tribe III. Cephalotixa. Cutting-teeth H ; lower crowded before the 

 base of the canines. Tail-end free. Index finger not clawed. 



S. Cephalotes. Face .short. Grinders cldsc : upptn- false giind^r 

 wanting. I'pper cutting-teetli broad. 



11 'J 



