2, PIER0PD8. 43 



21. Pteropus macrotis. 



Pteropus macrotis, Peters, MB. Akad. Berl. 1807, p. 327. 

 P Pteropus epularius, Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. Neio South Wales, 

 1877,ii. p. 8. 



Ears long, narrow, and attenuated towards the subacute extre- 

 mities, much longer than the muzzle (Plate III. fig. 3). 



Interfemoral membrane very narrow behind, concealed by the fur in 

 the centre ; wings about half an inch apart at their origin from the back. 



Sides of the face and under surface of lower jaw dark brown, 

 almost black ; crown of the head greyish yellow, the bases of the 

 hairs brown, a streak of the same ligh^coloured hairs extends 

 forwards upon the face between the eyes ; back of the head, neck, 

 and shoulders bright pale straw-colour, as in l-'t. Iceraudrenii ; in 

 front of each shoulder an epaulet of longer and coarser yellow hairs 

 over glands, and the fur across the back of the neck between these 

 glands and around their posterior and superior sides is deeper straw- 

 colour ; sides of the neck beneath and breast black, the black fur 

 surrounding anteriorly and iuferiorly the bright-coloured tufts on 

 each side ; abdomen and sides dark brown, the fur of the centre of 

 the abdomen shorter, and mixed with a few greyish hairs ; back 

 behind shoulders dark brown. 



Above and beneath, the forearms and legs arc naked, and the 

 wing-membrane has only a few long scattered hairs beneath ; the bases 

 of the ears in front and behind are alone clothed. Pur across the 

 middle of the back occupying a space about two inches wide. 



Pirst upper premolar minute, persistent, in the wide space be- 

 tween the canine and second premolar ; first lower premolar about 

 the same size as the last upper molar, all the teeth much smaller 

 and narrower than in any other species, except Pt. scapulatus. 



The following measurements are taken from the skin of an adult 

 male preserved in alcohol, and are greater than those of the type 

 which I have examined, and believe to be an example of an 

 immature female. 



Length, head 2"-5, eye from tip of uostrH 0"-85, ear l"-45 x 0"-7, 

 humerus 4", forearm 5"-4, thumb 2", second finger 3"-5 ; third 

 finger — metacarp. 3"-3, 1st ph. 2"-5, 2nd ph. 3"-6 ; fourth finger — 

 metacarp. 3"-25, 1st ph. 2"-l, 2nd ph. 2"-l ; fifth finger — metacarp. 

 3"-45, 1st ph. l"-7, 2nd ph. l"-6 ; foot l"-5. 



Nab. Am Islands ; Tule Island, New Guinea. 



This species resembles Pt. alecto very closely in the colour of the 

 fur, but the ears are much longer and acutely pointed, like those of 

 Pt. mecUus, and the remarkably small size of the premolars and 

 molars not only at once distinguish it from that species, but from 

 every other species of the genus as yet known except Pt. scapulatus, 

 in which the teeth are even smaller. The large development of the 

 shoulder-tufts over glands is also noticeable, and this, as well as 

 other corresponding characters, lead us to believe that Pt. epularius, 

 P. Eamsay, from Katow, N. Guinea, is identical with this species. 



u. c? ad. sk., al. Yule Island, N. Guinea. Purchased. 



