310 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 
Megasthenes referred, I think that the species was the above, the 
technical description of which, given by Jerdon,“ is as follows :— 
‘‘ Ashy grey colour, with a pale reddish or chocolat au lat overlying 
the whole back and head; sides of the head, chin, throat, and beneath, 
pale yellowish ; hands and feet, whitish ; face, palms. and fingers, and 
soles of the feet and toes, black; a high compressed vertical crest of 
hairs on the top of the head; hairs long and straight, not wavy; tail, 
of the colour of the darker portion of the back, ending in a whitish 
tuft; much the same size as entellus, 1.e.—length to root of tail, 30 
inches; tail, 43 inches; but it attains a still larger size. Inhabits 
eastern ghats and southern portion of table-land of Southern India, 
also in Ceylon, but not extending to Malabar coast.’’ 
Setting out rice for the use of monkeys, as described by Adlian, 
is a common custom at present. 
3. Tuer Fryine Serpent ("Odus mrepwrds). 
Pteropus edwardsi, Geoff.—The Flying Fox. 
Strabo,” quoting from Megasthenes, tells us that there are ‘‘in 
some parts of the country serpents two cubits long, which have 
membranous wings like bats. They fly about by night, when they 
let fall drops of urime or sweat, which blister the skin of persons 
not on their guard, with putrid sores.’’ -Adlian’® gives a similar ac- 
count. There can be little doubt that this is an exaggerated account 
of the great fruit-eating bats of India, which are known to Europeans 
as flying foxes. The extent of their wings, according to Jerdon, 
sometimes amounts to 52 inches, and in length they reach 14% inches. 
Though noisome animals in many respects, their droppings have net 
the properties above attributed. Flying foxes are eaten by some of 
the lower classes of natives, and Europeans who have made the expe- 
riment say the flesh is delicate and without unpleasant flavour. As 
to the winged scorpions which, according to Megasthenes, sting both 
natives and Europeans alike, I can only suggest that they were hornets 
of large size. 
4. Toe MarrixHora (Mapriyipas, “Avdpodpayos). 
Felis tigris, Linn.—The Tiger. 
This animal was described by Ktesias as being of the size of the 
lion, red in colour, with human-like face, ears and eyes, three rows 
of teeth, and stings on various parts of the body, but especially on 
the tail, which caused it to be compared with the scorpion. Its 
14 Mammals of India, p. 7. 
13 Geographica, xv. 1, 87. Of. J. W. M‘Crindle’s Megasthenes, p. 56. 
16 Hist. Anim., xvi. 41. 
