R o c k y m o u n t a i n s h e e 7 0 . O v i s MONTANA. p . (F. B. A. No. SO.)
T im b e re d p a r ts o f th e R o c k y M o u n ta in s , a n d h illy c o u n trie s b e tw e e n th a t ra n g e a n d t h e P a c if ic ,
from N o rth C a lifo rn ia to th e 6 2 n d p a r a lle l. T h e K am ts c h a tk a arg a li, d e s c rib e d a n d figured by
E s c h s c h o ltz in th e Z o o lo g is ch e r A tla s (p i. 5 ) , a p p e a r s to b e sufficiently d is tin c t from th e A m e ric a n o ne .
P t e r o p u s p s e l a p h o n . Lay’s Pteropus.
Pteropus pselaphon. L ay , Zool. Journ. No. 16, Mag, 1829.
PLATE IT.
This pteropus bears considerable resemblance to the “ roussette laineuse” of M.
Temminck, in its external form; but the interfemoral membrane is more developed, and
the colours of its fur quite different. I t is very numerous in the island of Bonin, (Loo
Choo,) where it feeds on the fruits of the Sapota and Pandanus, A detailed account of
it is given by Mr. Lay, in the work above referred to.#
Mr. Collie makes the following observations on its habits:—“ During the day, these
bats were generally observed hanging or climbing among the branches of the trees, the
head almost always lowest and at right angles with the body, suspending themselves by
one or both hind claws. They not unfrequenliy came down close to our men, and were
caught. Sometimes they alighted from an adjoining tree, at other times they ran down a
branch to pick oiF one of the fruits. In all cases, I believe, they ascended by climbing,
and they never seemed to be aware that they were taking a short branch, until they came
to its termination, when they tried all round for something to cling to, seldom trusting
themselves to their wings on such occasions. In the night we heard a loud and frequent
screeching, which we attributed to these animals.”
* Mr. Collie having dissected several specimens with great care, we shall here quote a few of his notes.— Length of
the animal, from the forehead to the coccyx, (the face being at right angles to the spine,) 7 inches. Extent of wings, ST
inches. Length of the intestinal canal from the cardia, 90 inches. When the wing membrane is extended, the nail of
the index finger is half sheathed. Slender bands of muscular fibres, ending in fine tendons, lie between the two surfaces
of this membrane. The third eyelid has a black lunated mai^in, which can be brought nearly to the middle of
the eye. The tongue is very large, and is folded within the mouth. It is covered above with fleshy papilla pointing
backwards, each tipped with from two to four fleshy spines. Lining of the mouth rugous, admitting of great dilatation.
Parotid gland, large. Stemo-maatoid muscle having a clavicular origin, about a quarter of an inch from the sternal one,
Mr. Collie says, “ This double origin being contrary to that described by Baron Cuvier as peculiar to the bat tribe, I ascertained
that I was correct, by dissecting another specimen.” Liver, consisting of three lobes, the middle one bipartite ;
lobulus spigelii, large. Spleen long and narrow, in the female lying close to the fundua uteri. No omentam; no cceca.
Penia, inches long, with a hard cartilaginous saddle-formed substance near the point above.