1888.] OF THE SOLOMON ISLANDS. 475 



aneiteanus and leucopterus, and Cynopterus) retain remnants of the 

 ancient cuspidate structure, while ottiers (e. g. Pteropus coronatus, 

 Plate XXI. figs. 2, 3) have lost all trace of molar-cusps. Finally, as 

 the most specialized of all would have arisen the genera v\ith 

 rudimentary cuspless molars, forming the group Macroglossi. 



On the other hand, in the Insectivorous line the Palaeochiroptera 

 would have divided themselves into the Vespertilionine and Embal- 

 lonurine alliances as described by Dr. Dobson', the latter again 

 independently giving rise in South America to a small-toothed fruit- 

 eating group, the Glossophagce, which take in that region the place 

 occupied by the Macroglossi in the Old World. 



5. Pteralopex atrata, Thos. (Plate XX. fig. 3, Plate XXI. 

 figs. 4-7.; 



a,b, c? • Aola. 



Besides the characters already mentioned, this species may be 

 readily recognized by the deep black colour of its fur and membranes, 

 only relieved by white mottlings on the under surface of the wing- 

 membranes, by its thick and clumsy-looking muzzle and its short 

 furry ears. The measurements of one of the two fine male specimens 

 collected by Mr. Woodford are as follows : — 



Head and body 240 millim. ; head 78 ; tip of nostril to eye 26 ; 

 ear, above crown, 15; forearm 143 ( = 5*65 in.); thumb, without 

 claw, 48; second finger 100; third finger — metacarpus 97 first 

 phalanx 67, second phalanx 110; fifth finger — metacarpus 100, first 

 phalanx 41, second phalanx 40 ; lower leg 62 ; foot 41 ; calcaneum 

 15 ; greatest depth of interfemoral behind knee 24. 



Skull : — Basal length 62"3, greatest breadth 38*5 ; tip of nasals to 

 supraorbital foramen 26*5 ; interorbital breadth 9'0; intertemporal 

 breadth 5'7 ; palate — length 36'5, breadth between outer sides of 

 canines 17, inside canines 9'0, outside p£' 19*8, inside P^* 11*0 ; basi- 

 cranial axis 21*2, basi-facial axis 42"4. 



Teeth : — Combined breadth of upper incisors 9"6 ; vertical length 

 of canine 8*0, horizontal length 5'5 ; horizontal length of P;^ 5'1, of 

 P^*5-l, ofm^4'5,ofm;^3-0. Lower teeth— breadth of iV 3-2 ; height 

 of canine (from basal ledge behind) 4*6 ; horizontal length of anterior 

 premolar 3*0, of ^-^ 4-5, of p^^ 4-6, of ui7 4*1, of m.- 3-6, of m.^ 2-8. 



The second specimen is slightly larger than the type, having a 

 forearm 146 miliiin. in length. 



It is unfortunate that Mr. Woodford is unable to give any informa- 

 tion about the habits and food of this interesting Bat, as both specimens 

 were brought to him dead by his native collectors. The semi-fluid 

 contents of the stomach and intestines, however, do not appear on a 

 microscopic examination to be essentially different from those of 

 Pteropus woodfordi. 



6. Cynonycteris brachyotis. Dobs. 



No further specimens obtained. See previous paper, p. 323. 



^ i. e. 



