28 CATALOGUE. 



The Pteropus eduttsis extremely abundant in the lower parts of Java, 

 and uniformly lives in society ; the more elevated districts are not visited 

 by it. Numerous individuals select a large tree for their resort, and, 

 suspending themselves with the claws of their posterior extremities to 

 the naked branches, often in companies of several hundreds, afford to 

 a stranger a very singular spectacle. They pass the greater portion of 

 the day in sleep, hanging motionless. Ranged in succession with the 

 head downwards, the membrane contracted about the body, and often 

 in close contact, they have little resemblance to living beings, and by a 

 person not accustomed to their economy, are readily mistaken for a 

 part of the tree, or for a fruit of uncommon size suspended from its 

 branches. Soon after sunset, they gradually quit their hold, and 

 pursue their nocturnal flights in quest of food. They direct their 

 course by an unerring instinct, to the forests, villages, and plantations, 

 occasioning incalculable mischief, attacking and devouring indiscrimi- 

 nately every kind of fruit, from the abundant and useful cocoa-nut 

 which surrounds every dwelling of the meanest peasantry, to the rare 

 and most delicate productions, which are cultivated with care by princes 

 and chiefs of distinction. 



Mr. Marsden, in his History of Sumatra, p. 118, informs us " that 

 he has observed very large flights of the Kaluwang, passing at a great 

 height in the air, as if migrating from one country to another, and 

 Captain Forrest notices their crossing the Straits of Sunda from Java 

 Head to Mount Pugong ; they are also seen hanging by hundreds upon 

 trees." 



30. PTEROPUS EDWARD8II, Geoff. Ann. du Mm. XV. 

 p. 92. 



Pteropus medius, Temm., Monog. I. p. 176. 



Pteropus Edwardsii, Temm. 1. c. II. p. 61. 



Pteropus medius, Sykes, Catal. of Mammalia observed in 



Dukhun, Proceed. Zool. Soc. 1831. 



Pteropus Assamensis, McClelland, Proceed. Zool. Soc. 1839. 

 WURBAGOOL, of the Mahrattas, Sykes. 

 HAB. Continental India. 



A. Presented by Colonel Sykes. 

 Several skins. 



Two Drawings in Dr. F. Buchanan (Hamilton's) Collection. 



Colonel Sykes informs us that " the only persons in Western India 



who eat these Bats are the native Portuguese , but I can personally tes- 



