GENUS PTEROPUS. 



darker than the neck, so as often to be quite black, though usually it is 

 of a very deep chestnut hue; whilst black or dark brown pervades the 

 extremities. 



Temminck informs us, that this is the only one of the larger species, 

 in which the old males have a bunch of unctuous hairs, proceeding from a 

 common centre, at the side of the neck ; though it is not so apparent as 

 in the smaller kinds, since the bushy hairs do not differ in colour from the 

 others, and they are all of the same length. He also remarks, that those 

 from Madagascar differ from those obtained in the Indian Peninsula and 

 Ceylon only in having the face blacker, and the orange hue upon the 

 neck more conspicuous. 



Edwards, to whom these immense sized Bats were more a novelty than 

 they now are, seems to have been shocked at the appearance of this 

 " Great One ;" and, after insisting on the accuracy of his drawing, tells 

 us, that from it " an idea of this Fiend may be formed." He adds, that 

 when wounded by a gun they are very fierce, snapping at, and biting 

 those who offer to take them. He was also informed that they dipped 

 into the sea for fish. Major Sykes, in his very recent work, " Cata- 

 logue of the Animals of the Deccan," (JDukhun,") remarks, that there the 

 animals of the same troop differ remarkably in their external markings. 

 " The native Portuguese," he continues, "are the only individuals who 

 eat this Roussette, but I can certify that its flesh is delicate, and free from 

 all disagreeable flavour." 



4. PTEROPUS FUNEREUS FUNEREAL ROUSSETTE. 



Syn. Roussette funebre. — Pteropus funereus Temra. Mon. Mam. II. 



63. 

 Icon. Temm. Mon. Mam. II. pi. 35, fig. 4, (head.) 



SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 



The Head small. The Ears large. The Interfemoral Membrane 

 deeply divided, and of equal breadth at the coccyx and feet. 

 The Hair varying in colour from dark brown and grey to black. 

 Inhabits the East Indian Archipelago. 



The dimensions of the Funereal Roussette are smaller than those of 

 the Edulis, and the head is proportionally much less, whilst the cars are 

 larger; the interfemoral membrane is very deeply divided, and of equal 

 breadth at the coccyx and feet ; this membrane is covered with hair above, 

 and at its base only below. There is no anomalous molar in the upper 

 jaw, where the incisors are broad and uniform, whilst they are small and 

 in pairs beneath. The robe is very dark, short, rough, and somewhat 

 frizzled and shining on the back ; the alar membranes are well clad 

 above, as is the interfemoral, which is, however, bare near the foot, and 

 also near the coccyx underneath. The following markings, varying pro- 

 bably according to age, and the season of the year, have been enumerated 

 by Temminck: 1. Quite black, except at the back of the neck, where 

 there is a slight deep chestnut marking. 2. Shining black on the lower 

 parts of the head ; dull black on the back, with a meagre coat ; bright red 

 on the occiput and nape of the neck ; and dark chestnut on the sides of 

 the neck. 3. Face, neck, and chest, quite black, belly dark brown ; nape 

 dull brown ; back olive brown. 4. Under portions quite black ; sides of 

 the neck chestnut; nape very bright golden red; back, ash-grey. In the 

 young, whose covering is more copious, it is of a uniform dark brown, 

 except at the nape and neck, which are of a dull brown. This species 

 has never been previously characterized or precisely distinguished from 

 the two preceding, with which it may easily be confounded. Hence the 

 necessity for details. 



The habits of this animal do not differ from those of the other larger 

 kinds. The superb Leyden Museum possesses twelve specimens derived 

 from four islands of the Indian Archipelago, namely, Timor, Amboyna, 

 Borneo, and Sumatra. TliOoe of Timor and Borneo are, in their mark- 

 ings, precisely similar. 



5. PTEROPUS PH.EOPS— BLACK-FACED ROUSSETTE. 



Syn. Roussette a face noir Pteropus phaiops. — Temm. Mon. Mam. 



I. 178, II. 65. 

 Icon. Temm. Mon. Mam. II. pi. 35, fig. 3, (head,) pi. 36, fig. 1, i, (cranium,) 



and 3, (teeth.) 



specific characters. 



The Body stout and short. The Muzzle long. The Ears short 

 and pointed. The Interfemoral Membrane broad on the tibia, rudi- 

 mentary along the coccyx. 



The Hair varying from brown to bright yellow and red. 



Inhabits Macassar and Amboyna. 



The Black-faced Roussette is of the same dimensions as Edwards' ; its 

 body is stout and short ; the muzzle long ; the eves further removed from 



the nostrils than from the ears, which are short and pointed ; the inter- 

 femoral membrane is broad on the tibia, but narrow along the coccyx, and, 

 reduced to a rudimentary state, is scarcely seen, hid by the long hair. There 

 is no anomalous molar in the upper jaw ; in the under it is isolated, and 

 flat on the crown ; the incisors above are small and regularly placed, but 

 in the inferior maxillary are crowded and compressed by the canines. The 

 face is of a deep black colour ; the rest of the head, the neck, and shoul- 

 ders, a pale yellow ; the cheek, a bright golden-red ; and the hairs in every 

 other part of the body have a twofold colour, being brown at their base, 

 and bright yellow at their points. The wings approximate to each other 

 on the back to within half an inch ; and in the old of both sexes the back 

 is quite naked ; in the young it is clad with black and shining hair. 

 It inhabits Macassar in the Island of Celebes ; also Amboyna. 



6. PTEROPUS POLIOCEPHALUS— GREY-HEADED 

 ROUSSETTE. 



Syn. Roussette a tete cendree Pteropus poliocephalus. — Temm. Mon. 



Mam. I. 179, II. 66. 

 Icon. 



specific characters. 



The Hair on the head dark grey ; on the shoulders rosy chestnut ; else- 

 where grey above; yellowish beneath. 



The Interfemoral Membrane rudimentary. The Coccyx free, hairy. 

 The Ears pointed and naked. 



Inhabits New Holland and Van Diemen's Land. 



The size of this Roussette is somewhat less than that of our first spe- 

 cies, the Edulis, and its body is shorter and stouter. The interfemoral 

 membranes are reduced to a mere rudiment ; the coccyx is free, and co- 

 vered with long hair ; the robe is abundant over the whole body, and 

 over the extremities ; the incisors of the lower jaw are somewhat sepa- 

 rated from each other; the ears, of moderate dimensions, are pointed and 

 quite naked. All the upper parts of the head, the cheeks, and throat, 

 are of a dark ash-colour, mixed with some black hairs ; the ash-colour 

 shades off into grey towards the crown of the head, and a longitudinal 

 band of this tint appears on the chanfrin. The whole of the nape, shoul- 

 ders, and a part of the front of the neck, are of a beautiful rosy chestnut 

 hue ; this colour is separated by a dark ash-coloured band, which extends 

 over the rest of the body ; all the back and chest present a mixture of 

 ash-coloured and black hairs, somewhat lighter on the crupper and outer 

 sides of the hind-feet, and approximating to yellow, which colour, of a 

 deeper tint, pervades the abdomen, and the inner side of the feet; the 

 fore-arm and adhering part of the membrane are clad with brown hair. 

 The markings of the female agree with those of the male ; her dimensions 

 being somewhat less. 



The habitat of the Ash-headed Roussette is New Holland and Van 

 Diemen's Land ; its habits exactly correspond with those already related. 



7. PTEROPUS CHRYSOPROCTUS.— GOLDEN-NECKED 

 ROUSSETTE. 



Syn. Roussette a Croupion Dor£. — Pteropus Chrysoproctus. — Temm. 



Mon. Mam. II. pi. 67. 

 Icon. Temm. Mon. Mam. II. pi. 35, fig. 2, (head.) 



SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 



The Hair on the head bright golden-red ; on the back chestnut ; 

 blackish beneath. 



The Interfemoral Membrane broad at the heel ; rudimentary at the 

 coccyx. 



Inhabits the Moluccas and New Guinea. 



This species was introduced to the notice of Naturalists in the year 

 1838, by M. Temminck, from four specimens obtained by Messrs Mack- 

 lot and Muller, in their voyage to the Moluccas and New Guinea. Its 

 native country is Amboyna, where it feeds upon mellow and succulent 

 fruits, whose fibrous portions are rejected, so that it taps and enjoys the 

 fruit, without swallowing the pulp, or devouring the harder parts. 



Its dimensions are somewhat less than No. 4, the Funereal. The in- 

 terfemoral membrane, somewhat broad at the heel, slopes away, and is 

 nearly rudimentary, so that at the coccyx it is hid under the fur ; the ears 

 are straight and pointed ; the upper incisors are broad and free, the under 

 are small, and in pairs ; there is no false molar in the upper jaw ; that of 

 the lower one is short and obtuse. The robe generally is long, rough, 

 and frizzly ; upon the back it is silky, smooth, and shining; the muzzle is 

 covered with a few transparent hairs. The adult male is chestnut-coloured 

 round the eyes and on the chin ; the head, all the neck, and the chest 

 and shoulders, are of a very lively golden. red colour ; the back, as far as 

 the loins, of a shining dark chestnut; the lumbar region, the coccyx, and 



