HAPLODONTID^l— HISTORY AND HABITS OF H. RUFUS. 593 



figure were based. In concluding a lengthy and elaborate description, both 

 of the genus and species, Richardson alluded to the possible existence of a 

 second species* in the following terms: — 



"Amongst Mr. Douglas's specimens, there is a young one, with more 

 white hairs interspersed through its fur, and some differences in the form of 

 its scull, which seem to point it out' as a second species. The breadth of its 

 frontal bone, between the orbits, where least, is six lines, being twice the 

 breadth of the same bone in A. leporina. Its nasal bone's are as broad as in 

 the latter, but are three lines shorter. The dentition is perfectly the same in 

 both, but in the young specimen there is a new set of grinders in the lower 

 jaw, which have destroyed the bodies of the old grinders, leaving merely a 

 long process before, another behind, in each socket, resembling fangs. The 

 specimen is not sufficiently perfect to enable me to give its characters as a 

 distinct species, but I have little doubt of its being so." 



It is scarcely necessary to state that the supposed existence of a second 

 species has never been verified. While there is something in this account 

 of the inferior molars not readily intelligible, the cranial differences noted 

 may be ascribed to the immaturity of the specimen or its individual variabil- 

 ity. The author continued with an account of some color-variation observed 

 in the skins of a robe, leading him again to the inference that there were two 

 species of Sewellel: — 



"Since the account of this species was published in the Zoological 

 Journal, Mr. Douglas has placed in my hands an Indian blanket or robe, 

 formed by sewing the skins of the sewellel together. The robe contains 

 twenty-seven skins, which have been selected when the fur was in prime 

 order. In all of them the long hairs are so numerous as to hide the wool or 

 down at their roots, and their points have a very high lustre The general 

 colour of the surface of the fur is between chestnut and umber browns, lighter, 

 and with more lustre on the sides. Some of the skins, which are in the best 

 order, have the longer hairs on the back of the head, and between the shoul- 

 ders almost black. It is probable, however, that these are the skins of two 

 species of sewellels, in the robe, and that one of them wants the white mark 

 on the throat. The down of all the skins of the l'obe has a shining blackish- 

 gray colour." 



The color-variation noted by Richardson may be compared with that 



* See also beyond : Dr. Pcters's characterization of a new variety. 

 38 M 



