4 
ORDER CHIROPTERA^THE FRUGIVOROUS BATS. 
slender; its body prolonged; its muzzle long; and the membranes used in 
flying broad and extended. The robe on the upper part of the body 
is close, from the hairs throughout a part of their course adhering to the 
skin j it is always very short, and the skin may be seen beneath. In the young 
the fur is longer, and quite free, a difference depending upon the age of 
the individuals. The lower parts of the body are most clad, and the hair 
is here somewhat curled. The ears are long and pointed. The inter- 
femoral membrane unites the limbs to the coccygial region ; it is broad at 
the knee, and forms a large angle: that of the wing, besides being brood, 
IS also very long ; the whole is perfectly black in the adult, and of a brown 
colour in the young. The incisors in the upper jaw are uniform, and re- 
gularly placed, which is scarcely the case in the inferior maxilla : there is 
no small anomalous tooth in the upper jaw, and four molar spaces ; below 
there is an anomalous tooth, and five molar spaces. As to colour, the 
muzzle, cheeks, and throat, are of a deep chestnut, while the side and 
back of the neck are of a bright red; a reddish band, accompanied 
with another of a blackish hue, extends between the shoulders; and forms 
the limit of the red marking of the neck, a peculiarity which distinguishes 
tins from all the other species. The back is of a dark chestnut colour, or 
greyish. black, as are also the posterior extremities ; the chest is chestnut 
coloured, the abdomen dark-brown, or, more generallv in the adult, per- 
fectly black. Of the sixty specimens which enrich the Leyden Museum, 
only three, according to Memminck, extend from the tip of one wing to 
that of the other as much as four feet ten inches, (French,) and two to 
nearly five feet. This nearly corresponds with the dimensions reported 
by Dr Horsfield of those in the Museum of the Honourable the East 
India Company. “ In adult subjects, the extent of the expanded wings is 
full five feet, and the length of the body one foot. In the specimen I 
have before me, the extent of the wings is five feet, two inches. 'I’he 
smallest specimen in the Museum has an expansion of three feet and ten 
inches across the wings : all the others measure nearly five feet. The 
length of the arm and fore-arm together is fourteen inches ; the naked 
thumb projecting beyond the membrane measures two inches ; and the 
claw, which is strong and sharp, has an extent of nearly an inch long in 
its curvature." 
Though inclined to agree with Messrs Geoffrey and Temminck, that 
Horsfield's Javanicus is a mere variety of the present, yet the Doctor’s 
account of the habits of this animal is so excellent that we shall borrow 
freely from it. It is extremely abundant in the lower parts ot Java, and 
uniformly lives in society. The more elevated districts are not visited 
by it. Numerous individuals select a large tree for their resort, and sus- 
pending themselves with the claws of their posterior extremities to the 
naked branches, often in companies of several hundreds, afford to a 
stranger a very singular spectacle. A species of Fig-tree, resembling the 
Ficus religiosa of India, which is often found near the villages of the na- 
tives, affords them a favourite retreat, and the extended branches of one 
of these are sometimes covered by them. They pass the greater portion 
of the day in sleep, hanging motionless : ranged in succession, with the 
head downwards, the membrane contracted about the body, and often in 
close contact, they have little resemblance to living beings, and, by a per- 
son not accustomed to their economy, are readily mistaken for a part of 
the tree, or for a fruit of uncommon size suspended from its branches. In 
general, these societies pre.serve a perfect silence during the day; but 
if they are disturbed, or they contend among themselves, they emit 
sharp piercing shrieks, and their awkward attempts to extricate them- 
selves, when oppressed by the light of the sun, exhibit a ludicrous spec- 
tacle. In consequence of the sharpness of their claws, their attachment 
is so strong, that they cannot readily leave their hold, without the assist- 
ance of the expanded membrane; and if suddenly killed in the natural 
attitude during the day, they continue suspended after death. It is ne- 
cessary, therefordi to oblige them to take wing, if it be desired to obtain 
them during the day. Soon after sunset they gradually quit their hold, and 
pursue their nocturnal flights in quest of food. They direct their course, 
by an unerring instinct, to the forests, villages, and plantations, occasion- 
ing incalculable mischief, attacking aud devouring indiscriminately every 
kind of fruit, from the abundant Cocoa-nut of the meanest peasantry, to 
the most delicate productions cultivated by the chiefs. By the latter, 
as well as by the European colonists, various methods are employed to 
protect the orchards and gardens. Delicate fruits, such as Mangoes, &c., 
as they approach to maturity, are ingeniously secured by means of 
a loose net or basket, skilfully constructed of split bamboo. Without 
this precaution, little valuable fruit would escape the ravages of the Ka- 
long. 
There are few situations in the lower parts of Java, in which this night 
wanderer is not constantly observed. As soon as the light of the sun has 
retired, one animal is seen to follow the other at a small but regular dis- 
tance, and this succession continues uninterrupted till darkness obstructs 
the view. The flight of the Kalong is slow and steady, pursued in a 
straight line, and capable of long continuance. Its chase forms occasion- 
ally an amusement to the colonists and inhabitants, during the moonlight 
nights, which at Java are uncommonly serene. He is watched in his de- 
scent to the fruit trees, and a discharge of small shot readily brings him 
to the ground. The natives of many of the Islands often employ for their 
capture a net at the end of a long pole. They eat it ; and consider the 
flesh, which is white, delicate, and very tender, as delicious, whilst its 
peculiar flavour disgusts most Europeans : for it has a very strong smell 
of musk, produite par leur urine, qu’ils rbpandent lorsqu’on les inquiete. 
When wounded or irritated, they utter a sharp cry like that of the Goose. 
2. PTEROPUS JUBATUS.— MANED ROUSSETTE. 
Syn. et Icon. Pteeopus pv8rhocephai.us. — M eyen, in Nov. Act. Acad. Cur, 
vol. X VI. pi. 45 and 46, (cranium.) 
Roossette a criniere Temm. Mon. Mam. II. 59. 
Pteropcs JUBATUS — Esch.' Zool. Atl. pi. IG. 
SPPX'inc CHARACTERS. 
The Hair uniform deep reddish-brown ; on the face black. 
Inhabits the Island of Luzon. 
This species, bearing a considerable resemblance to the previous or.e, 
may properly be characterized as new, not having hitherto found its way 
into the catalogues, native or foreign, of our most recent systematic works. 
M. Temminck, in his second volume, has recently given an account of it, 
deriving his materials from the memoirs of Messrs Eschscholtz and Meyen, 
quoted below.* * 
The Maned Bat has the chest, belly, and the whole back, of a very 
deep brown colour, and this colour is not limited between the shoulders 
by a transverse band, as in the former species : all the neck, however, is 
covered with a broad reddish-brown collar, which runs to a point upon 
the upper part of the back. The whole face is black, and covered with 
short hair ; the crown of the head and occiput are of a shining orange- 
yellow colour, whilst there is a bright brown spot beneath the ear; the 
ears are almost naked, about an inch long, with the apex roundish. The 
breadth of the interfemoral membianeis an inch, and decidedly keel-shaped, 
though the descriptions do not indicate whether the membrane surrounds 
the coccygial region, or leaves this bone free from the membrane. The 
eyes are of a pale red colour. In this Roussette the molars are stronger, 
wider, and more approximated, than in any other species. The upper 
jaw has no vestige of a false molar ; there is a very small one in the 
lower. 
These large Bats are found in the Island of Luzon, the principal of the 
Philippines, where they cover the trees with their numerous troops, and 
have been compared to nests suspended from the branches. They are 
sometimes seen to fly during the day, but more frequently they are ha- 
bitually hid under the foliage during sunshine. They are frugivorous. 
Their flesh is tender, and much esteemed, having a great resemblance to 
that of Frogs. It is esteemed by the Spaniards as well as the islanders, 
a remark which Temminck extends to all the Bats he describes. 
3. PTEROPUS EDWARDSn.— EDWARDS’ ROUSSETTE. 
Syn. Pteropps Edwardsii Geoff. Ann. du Mus. XV. 92 Desra. Mam. 
No. 138. 
Rou.ssette u’Edwabds. — Temm. Mon. Mam. II. 61. 
Pteropus MEUIOS, (Rou.sscttc intermedienne.) — Temm. Mon. Mam. 1- 
176. 
Icon. Great Bat from Madagascar. — Edw. Birds, pi. 180. 
SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 
F.ARS broad and long. Membranes attached near the spine. No 
transversal markings. Coat bright red. Back chestnut. Abdomen light 
brown. 
Inhabits Madagascar, India, Ceylon. 
Edwards’ Roussette is of smaller dimensions than that of our first named 
species, a remark which applies to all the features of the face ; the ears, 
however, are both broader and longer. The side membranes are attached 
nearer to the spine than in the edulis, which, of course, makes the back 
narrower ; the transversal bands are here likewise wanting. Whatever 
variety occurs in the coau of these Bats generally, the face is always 
■ Escu. Zool. Ati. Zoologischer Atlas entlialtend Abbildungen und resch-iebungen iieuer Thicrasten wahrend d.is Floucap mmi- vo.i Kotzebue Zereiter Raise um die 
Welt, in den Jahren 1823 — 1826, von Dr Friedr. Eschscholtz. Berlin, 1829 — 18.33. 
* L' Atlas Zoologique, par M. Eschscholtz, 4*, cacher avec une figure. Momoirc par M. Sleyen, Nov. Acta Vhg -iUd. .lead. Cas. Leap. Sut. Curios, tome X' I- 
p. 604. 
