64 BULLETIN 57, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 
in m 1 and m ± 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some specimens is obsolete in the first lower molar.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 P ter opus, 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 Gynopterus. 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. Gesellscli. naturforsck. Freunde. 
Berlin, No. 8, p. 200. 
1899. Scotonycteris Matschie, Flederm. des Berliner Mus. fur Natnrk., p. 70. 
Type-species. — Scotonycteris zenkeri 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 4 , m 1 , pm 3 , 
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 Gynopterus 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 bullse as in Epomophorus. 
Externally much as in Epomophorus , except that the lips are less 
