64 BULLETIN 57, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



in m 1 and m t it is confined to the region behind the cusps, and in 

 some specimens is obsolete in the first lower molar. Skull much 

 shorter and more heavily built than that of Pteropus, but of essen- 

 tially the same type. Distance from orbit to nares about equal to 

 lachrymal width. Posterior portion of brain case slightly tubular, 

 and occipital region so deflected that alveolar line projected back- 

 ward, passes just below root of zygoma. Premaxillaries very narrow, 

 the width scarcely more than that of crown of incisor. The inner 

 extremities barely come in contact. Audital bullae somewhat wider 

 than in Pteropus, but less developed than in Cynopterus. External 

 characters unlike those of Pteropus in the absence of the claw of 

 index finger, the presence of a distinct tail, and the attachment of the 

 wing membranes along middle of back. 



Species examined. — -Dobsonia palliata (Geoffroy), D. minor (Dob- 

 son), and D. magna (Thomas). 



Remarks. — The genus Dobsonia is one of the most aberrant of those 

 associated with Pteropus by the form of the skull. Its chief modifi- 

 cation is in the direction of a general shortening of the facial part of 

 the skull, with crowding of the tooth rows and a tendency to eliminate 

 the less important anterior teeth. 



Genus SCOTONYCTERIS Matsehie. 



1894. Scotonycteris Matschie, Sitz.-Ber. Gesellsch. uaturforsch. Freunde. 



Berlin, No. 8, p. 200. 

 1899. Scotonycteris Matschie, Flederm. des Berliner Mus. fur Naturk., p. 70. 



Type-species. — Scotonycteris senkeri Matschie. 



Geographic distribution. — West Africa (Kamerun and Fernando 

 Po). 



Number of forms. — Two species are now known, the type and S. 

 bedfordi Thomas. 



Characters. — Dental formula as in Epomophorus and Hypsigna- 

 thus. Incisors and canines essentially as in Epomophorus, the former 

 styliform and without noticeable contrast in size, the latter relatively 

 larger than in the allied genera, though of the same form, the anterior 

 surface smoothly rounded. Cheek teeth all subterete, essentially alike 

 in form, the small lower premolar (pm 2 ) tapering to a point, the 

 two lower molars flattish ; other cheek teeth (pm 3 , pm *, m l , pm 

 pm 4 ) with obliquely sloping crowns and no distinct flat crushing sur 

 face (their form closely resembling that of pm 3 in Epomophorus 

 comptus). Skull not flattened as in Epomophorus, but resembling 

 that of Cynopterus except that rostrum is compressed in region of 

 diastema and the premaxillaries are spatulate instead of tapering 

 above. Mandible remarkably slender and weak, its form almost 

 exactly as in Epomophorus. Audital bullae as in Epomophorus. 

 Externally much as in Epomophorus, except that the lips are less 



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