18/2.] CAPT. T. HUTTON ON HIMALAYAN BATS. 091 



however, still others which I have not yet been able to procure ; but 

 the species already in my possession amount to twenty-three in 

 number, belonging to various genera. 



During the broad light of day these animals frequent dark out- 

 offices, lofts, holes in trees, wide caverns, narrow clefts in rocks and 

 in buildings and old ruins generally ; are to be found under the 

 eaves of thatched houses, and in almost every hole between the 

 masonry and roofing- timbers of verandahs. They are easily detected 

 by the litter which is strewed beneath their retreats. Out of mere 

 narrow cracks in rocks by the roadside they sometimes issue, in the 

 early twilight, by dozens, following each other in an incessant 

 stream for several minutes. These are the smaller Rhinolophi ; and 

 in such cases all are found to be of the same species ; and I have 

 never yet known more than one kind to inhabit any particular spot 

 if at all straitened for room. Five or six individuals of Nycticejvs 

 may be poked out of one small hole in a verandah, but never inter- 

 mingled with any other species than their own. This, however, 

 applies only to such narrow and confined places, where they would 

 necessarily be brought into close proximity ; for in a large out-office, 

 loft, or spacious cavern, where they can hang apart, several distinct 

 species may occasionally be found. Confined in a box or basket, 

 even for a few hours, I have found that Vespertilio blythii and 

 some of the Nycticeji will prey upon each other ; and this propensity 

 may probably account for the fact of the different species when at 

 large invariably keepiug apart from each other. 



The first species to be described is an old friend which occurs 

 generally throughout India, clustering together in large trees during 

 the day, and sallying forth in the evening ; this is the well-known 

 " Flying Fox " of Europeans in India, and is of large size. 



Genus Pteropus. 



Characters. — Head elongated, conical ; muzzle tapering, fine ; 

 nostrils slightly produced ; tragus none ; tail short or wanting ; 

 ears lateral, ovate, elongate ; wings ample ; a sharp, falcate, and 

 triangular claw at the end of the first joint of the outer finger, the 

 point turned upwards towards the thumb ; interfemoral membrane 

 short. Frugivorous. 



1 . Pteropus edwardsi. 



Pteropus medius, Temm. ; Sykes, P. Z. S. 1830-1, p. 99. 



Pteropus leucocephalus, Hodgson. 



Pteropus assamensis, M'Clelland, P. Z. S. 



Pteropus edwardsii, Temm. ; Geoff.; Horsf. ; Blyth. 



" The Flying Fox," or " Fox-bat," of the Plains of India. 



At Neemuch, in Western India, this species was exceedingly- 

 abundant, hanging during the daytime, in parties of six to a dozen 

 or more, in the large mango-trees, issuing forth about dusk in 



to Prof. Peters, of Berlin, who has very kindly examined them, and made what 

 corrections were necessary in the identification of the species. — P. M. 



