666 LETTER KROM THE REV. S. J. WH1TMEE. [Dec. 1, 



been based on an albino variety of the present animal, it would be 

 altogether inappropriate to the normal form. I therefore propose 

 for the present to call the West-Indian species Dasyprocta antillensis 

 (Plate LXXXII.), and hope to be able to give a more complete 

 account of it on a future occasion. 



8. An Orange-bellied Helictis {Helictis subaurantiaca, Swinh.), 

 purchased of a dealer, November 26th. This little-known carnivore 

 was described and figured by Mr. Swinhoe in our' Proceedings' in 1862 

 (P. Z. S. 1862, p. 355, pi. xliv.), from Formosan specimens. I have 

 never before seen a living specimen of the form, which is obviously 

 nearly allied to Arctonyx, and also somewhat resembles in external 

 appearance Taxidea americana, of both of which we have living ex- 

 amples now in the Gardens. 



It seems to me questionable whether H. subaurantiaca is really 

 specifically distinct from H. moschata, Gray* ; but if there are two 

 Chinese species, ours belongs to the former. I may remark that I 

 believe Helictis personata of Peguf, which is united to Helictis mos- 

 chata by Dr. Gray (Cat. Cam. Mamm. p. 142), to be a very distinct 

 species. 



The following extract was read from a letter addressed to the 

 Secretary by the Rev. S. J. Whitmee, C.M.Z.S., dated Samoa, 

 South Pacific, July 24th, 18/4 :— 



" I am forwarding to Sydney, to the care of Dr. Bennett, a couple 

 of Doves, Ptilonopns fasciatus and Phleyanas stairi (?), and a pair of 

 Fruit-bats of the species described by Mr. E. R. Alston, at the meet- 

 ing of the Society on January 20th last, as Pteropus whitmeei. 



" These Dr. Bennett will forward to England for the Society should 

 they survive the voyage. As the Bat appears to belong to a new 

 species, you will doubtless be glad to have a pair in the Gardens. 



"This Pteropus is very common in Samoa. The usual native name 

 for it is Pea' ( = Peka). But as Pea' is the name of some chiefs, this 

 is often changed, according to the well-known Polynesian custom, 

 into Manu layi ( = Manu lanyi), which means the animal of the hea- 

 vens. This name is given to it on account of its mode of flight over 

 the tops of the trees at a considerable height. It is chiefly nocturnal 

 in its habits, but may very frequently be seen even at midday in the 

 bush gracefully sailing high in the heavens with a very slow and 

 regular flap of the wings. 



"I once saw a number together which I estimated at over a thou- 

 sand. I was visiting an extinct crater in the island of Savaii, the sides 

 of which are perpendicular. The bottom of the crater is full of 

 large trees, the tops of which are about 200 feet below its upper 

 edge. These trees seem to be a favourite resort of the Bats ; and at 

 the time of my visit, 5 o'clock p.m., they had come out to disport 

 themselves in the cool of the evening. 



"The Pteropus is somewhat of a pest at the time of the bread-fruit 



* See Mr. Swinhoe's remarks, P. Z. S. 1870, p. 623. 



t Melogale personata, Geoffr. St.-Hilaire, Bellinger's Voy. Mamm. pi. 4. 



