52 Liion — Pigmy Squirrels of Nannosciurus melanotis Group. 



b^ Yellowish brown upperparts irregularly grizzled with black. 



d. Size larger, gnathion to occipito-sphenoid suture more than 



16 mm. pulcher. 



d'. Size smaller, gnathion to occipito-sphenoid suture about 



15 mm. sumatranus. 



Nannosciurus melanotis (Miiller and Schlegel). 



1839-44. Scmms mdaiiotis Miiller and Schlegel, Verhandel. over de Nat- 

 uurlijke Geschiedenes der Nederl. overzeesche Bezittingen, p. 98, PI. 

 XIV, fig 5. 



Colypes. — In the Leyden Museum, four specimens, one from Padang, 

 western Sumatra ( $ a. No. 1. 1887), one from Borneo ( cJ* No. 3 c), and two 

 from Java ( 9 h. No. 8 and g., no sex, No. 7). The name melanotis is here 

 restricted to the Javan animal, since most of the original series came from 

 Java, and the greater part of the description is based on them. 



Characters. — Distinct nape patch wanting, nape merely grayer than crown. 

 General color darkest of the group. 



Color— Based on Nos. 121,494-121 ,496 U. S. N. M. Upper surface of head 

 and body, outer surfaces of legs and sides a color intermediate between 

 Ridgway's hazel and chestnut finely and evenly grizzled witli black. A 

 small area on tlie nape is lighter and similar to wood-brown. Hairs of the 

 underparts blackish-slate at base, tipped with a dark vinaceous buff. Upper 

 surface of feet similar in color to hack. Postauricular spot black, con- 

 spicuous, extending from 5-7 mm. behind the ear. Outer side of ear black, 

 inner side similar to back. Light head stripe vinaceous buff to whitish 

 about 1.5 mm. wide in front and about twice as wide under the ear. Ring 

 over the eye .same color as head stripe, about 1 mm. wide. Preorbital 

 stripe black, about 1 mm. wide. Hairs of tail (except at tip) ringed as fol- 

 lows: Hazel, blackish, rich hazel, black, light vinaceous buff, and incon- 

 spicuous black tip. At tip of tail the hairs are longer and after the second 

 hazel ring are blackish brown. 



Skull and teeth. — These show no characters by which to distinguish Nan- 

 nosciurus mel"not)s from other related species except N. jndclier which has 

 a slightly larger skull. 



Measurements. — The hind feet with claws in the three specimens meas- 

 ure 22.2, 22.5, 22.7 mm.; gnathion to occipito-sphenoid suture, 15.5 mm.; 

 greatest breadth of skull, 15.9-16.5; interorbital constriction, 9.5-10 mm. 



Specimens examined.^Three from near Batavia, Java— one male, one fe- 

 male and one af unknown sex. 



Remarks. — The above three skins differ in their red brown color from all 

 the other specimens of this group, from the figure published with the orig- 

 inal description and, judging from Mr. Miller's notes on the original series 

 in Leyden, from the cotypes. It is to be noted that the cotypes are mounted 

 and have been exhibited for over half a century, and that the three speci- 

 mens in the National Museum have been in a preserving fluid. It is pos- 

 sible that when more specimens are secured from Java two forms will be 

 found to occur on that island. The above three specimens, the cotypes, 

 and the original figure all agree in the absence of a well defined nape patch 



