278 
NATURAL HISTORY. 
respectively. This Bat is about six inches long, with an expanse of wing of rather more than two 
feet. The colour of the fur in adult animals is generally olive-grey, often with a brownish tinge, and 
the wing-membranes are light brown and translucent. The tail is short, and about half enclosed in 
the interfemoral membrane. 
THE DWARF LONG-TONGUED FRUIT BAT* 
The remaining forms of the Frugivorous Bats to which we have to refer constitute a peculiar 
group, characterised by having the tongue very long, thin, capable of being pushed far out of the 
mouth, and covered with peculiar recurved, brush-like papillae, and the molar teeth very small and 
scarcely raised above the surface of the gum (see figure below). From the great length of the tongue, 
the name of Macroylossus was applied by F. Cuvier to the first species of this group that was 
discovered ; and, as it is the smallest species of the family, it received from its original describer the 
specific name of minimus . The Macroylossus minimus is, in fact, a mere dwarf in comparison with 
the large Bats which constitute the majority of the Pteropkke, measuring only from two and a 
half to three inches in length, with an expanse of wing of from eight to ten inches. The muzzle is 
long and narrow, with the nostrils not projecting ; the index 
finger has a claw at its tip ; the wing-membranes spring from 
the sides of the body, and run down to the base of the fourth 
toe ; and the tail is very short, free from the interfemoral mem- 
brane, but usually concealed beneath the fur. The colour of 
the fur is reddish-brown. The tongue is said to be two iuches 
long. This little Fruit Bat occurs upon the Himalayas, at 
Darjeling, and extends thence through Burundi and Siam to the 
islands of the Eastern Archipelago, and as far south as the 
uorthern and western parts of Australia. According to Dr. 
Horsfield, this species, although far less abundant in Java 
than the great K along, exists there in sufficient numbers to 
inflict serious injury upon the plantations of fruit-trees. It particularly affects the most succulent 
fruits, such as those of various species of Eugenia , known in Java as Jamboo. Probably the 
peculiar structure of the tongue has some connection with this soft, juicy diet. 
TEETH or THE DWARF LONG-TONGUED 
FRUIT RAT. 
THE BLACK-CHEEKED FRUIT BAT.f 
Among the Bats from Duke of York Island, north-cast of New Guinea, lately described by Mr. 
Dobson, there is a most characteristic species of the long-tongued group, which may be called the 
Black-cheeked Fruit Bat. It has the long thin tongue, armed with brush-like papillae, of Macro- 
ylossus , the nostrils bounded at the sides by naked raised edges, the metacarpal bone of the middle 
finger as long as the whole index finger, the wing-membranes starting from the sides of the body 
and from the back of the middle toe. In the number of the teeth it agrees with Macroylossus , but 
differs somewhat in the position of the pre-molars, the first of which are very small and placed close 
to the canines, while the second and third are separated from this and from each other by considerable 
interspaces. W e have no information as to the habits of this Bat, which is figured on the next page. 
THE FIJIAN LONG-TONGUED FRUIT BAT .t 
The only other species of this group was described by the late Dr. Gray, under the name of 
Notopteris Macdonaldii , and it is interesting as reproducing the peculiar character presented by 
Ceplialotes of having the wing-membranes springing from the middle of the back. In the structure 
of the tongue it agrees with Macroylossus ; but it has no claw on the first finger ; its tail is 
elongated ; and it has only two incisors in each jaw, and four molars on each side in the upper* 
and five in the lower jaw. This curious Bat is an inhabitant of the Fiji Islands. 
* Macroylossus minimus. 
t Melonycteris melanops. 
Notopteris Macdonaldii. 
