The cranium of _Dobsonia_ resembles, in some ways, the cranium of _Rousettus_ as well as that of _Pteropus_. Even so, in _Dobsonia_ the rostrum is shorter and the cheek-teeth, especially in the upper jaw, are more crowded. The anterior part of the mandible is narrow and the lower incisors are diminutive and often concealed by the flesh of the gum. =Dobsonia inermis= In a review of the genus _Dobsonia_, Andersen (1909_c_:532) named and described _D. inermis_ and _D. nesea_ from the Solomons. Specimens of _Dobsonia inermis_ from San Cristobal and Ugi were said to differ from specimens of _D. nesea_ from Alu, Shortland, and Rubiana in having perpendicular as opposed to anteriorly slanted upper canines. Andersen (1909_c_:532) reported that the two species were of "... the same general size." Troughton (1936:348-349) studied specimens of _Dobsonia_ from Bougainville and Santa Ysabel and, because of individual variation in proclivity of the upper canines, concluded that _D. nesea_ was conspecific with _D. inermis_. He (p. 349) noted that the ears were shorter in _inermis_ than in _nesea_, but the size of teeth showed insular variation and a "... confusing amount of intergradation ... [that obscures] ... diagnostic importance." Specimens of _Dobsonia_ from Choiseul are smaller (externally and cranially) than those from Alu, Shortland, Rubiana, Bougainville, Fauro, Vella Lavella, Guadalcanal, Florida, Ugi, San Cristobal, and Rennell. Specimens from Santa Ysabel (see Fig. 8) are intermediate in size between those from Choiseul and the other islands listed. Judging from available specimens, two subspecies of _Dobsonia inermis_ occur in the Solomons. Specimens from Choiseul (see A, Fig. 8), which are smaller than those from other islands, represent one subspecies (heretofore unrecognized), whereas specimens from other islands (except Santa Ysabel) represent a second subspecies. Specimens from Santa Ysabel are slightly larger than those on Choiseul and are regarded as intergrades between the two subspecies. Specimens from Rennell, Ugi, San Cristobal, Florida, Fauro, and Guadalcanal are slightly smaller than those from Bougainville, Vella Lavella, Shortland, and Rubiana, but the differences are not great enough to warrant recognition of two subspecies. Therefore, the subspecific name _nesea_ is arranged as a synonym of _inermis_, which has priority, and the latter name is used for specimens of _Dobsonia inermis_ from the Solomon islands other than Choiseul and Santa Ysabel. Additional remarks on the distribution of this species are in the section on Zoogeography and Speciation.