Mammalia. 25 



also has similarly short canines, and is of about the same size. 

 That animal, however, is of a dull light-brown colour, -with the 

 neck pale yellow. Its teeth, especially the anterior molar, are 

 nan'ower and lighter than those of Pt. melas ; the first lower pre- 

 molar and the last molars both above and below are much smaller, 

 and the basal ledges to the canines are decidedly narrower than in 

 Pt. natalis. In the skull, again, Pt. hmhocensis has a shorter, 

 broader muzzle, greater spread of zygomata, broader interorbital 

 space, and larger postorbital processes than the present species. 

 Of course, in comparing the colours of these two species the 

 question of sex again arises, as the only known specimens of 

 Pt. lomlocemis are both males ; but considering not only the 

 differences in the skull and teeth, but also the fact that CA'cn 

 if the male of Pt. natalis have a yellow tippet, it would in all 

 probabilitj' have at least its head and body jet-black, like the 

 female, I should certainly not be justified in assigning the Christmas 

 Island specimens to Pt. hmhocensis. It should also be noticed that 

 the little hair that has appeared on the crown and between the 

 shoulders of specimen c, a newborn male, is Tvoolh' black ; its neck 

 is unfortunately still entirely naked." 



The above description was founded upon female specimens. 

 In some males, probabh' old individuals, there is a distinct trace 

 of the tippet, in the shape of a band of brownish fur most 

 conspicuous on the sides of the neck and narrowing towards tlie 

 middle of the back, where it is internipted by a strip of black fur 

 like that covering the rest of the body. Scattered through the 

 fur there are a few white hairs or white banded with brown. The 

 fur of the lumbar region is smooth and straight. 



This species is vcrj- common all over the island, and at the 

 settlement causes great destruction of fruit, particularly of papaias 

 and bananas. When the wild fruits are ripe comparatively few 

 of these bats visit the gardens, but great numbers may be seen 

 feeding in the forest. The wild fruits to which they are most 

 destructive seem to be those of the ' Saoh ' {Sideroxylon) and the 

 ' Gatet ' [Tnocarpiis). 



One remarkable point about this species is, that it has to a very 

 great extent abandoned the nocturnal habits usual in the group. 

 Several might often be seen sailing and circling high in the air in 

 the hot sunlight, sometimes even at midday, and I have also 

 frequently seen them feeding in the daytime.^ The ciy is a very 

 loud, harsh screech, apparently uttered both during the inspiration 

 as well as the expiration of the breath. At the end of July I shot 



^ Macgillivray has recorded that on Fitzroy Island he saw great numbers of 

 Pteropus conspicillatus flying in bright daylight. (Voyage of the " llattlesnake," 

 vol. i, p. 96.) 



