PTEEOPODIDJS. 255 



Suborder MEGACHIROPTEEA. 

 Family PTEROPODID^E. 



This family consists of the fruit-eating bats, the largest of 

 which are commonly known in India as flying-foxes. Some 

 smaller forms, of less conspicuous coloration, are also comprised. 

 All are distinguished from other bats by the characters of the 

 molar teeth, with longitudinally grooved crowns, by the bony 

 palate being continued, narrowing slowly backwards, behind the 

 last molars, and especially by the form of the ear, the margins of 

 which meet before they reach the head, so that the whole margin 

 forms a more or less regular oval ring, whilst in all insectivorous 

 bats the margins arise independently from the head. As a rule, 

 too, the index finger terminates in a claw, Eonycteris spelcea being 

 the only exception to the rule found in the territory of British 

 India. 



The following genera occur within the Indian area : 



A. Tongue moderate ; inner margin of nostril project- 



ing ; a claw to index finger. 



a. No tail, hind neck and shoulders generally 



much paler than back ". PTKROPUS. 



b. A tail generally present ; upper parts of one 



colour throughout. 



a'. 5 teeth in upper molar series, 6 in lower .... XANTHAEPYIA. 

 b'. 4 teeth in upper molar series, 5 in lower .... CYNOPTERUS. 



B. Tongue very long; no projecting margin to nostril. 



a. A claw to index ; wing from base of 4th toe ; 



tail rudimentary CARPONYCTERIS. 



b. No claw to index ; wing from base of 1st toe ; 



tail distinct EONTCTERIS. 



All the Pteropodidce are limited to the tropical and subtropical 

 regions of the Eastern hemisphere with Australia, none being found 

 in America. 



Genus PTEROPUS, Brisson (1756). 



Size large, exceeding all other bats. Muzzle long j nostrils pro- 

 jecting by their inner margins, between which is a deep furrow 

 'leading to a vertical groove that divides the upper lip, and ha,s on 

 each side a naked swollen border. Second * or index finger with a 

 distinct claw ; metacarpal bone of third or middle finger shorter 

 than second finger. Wing-membrane from the sides of the hairy 



* The thumb, which ia free, being classed as the first finger. 



