70 MILLER 



RATUFA GIGANTEA (McClelland). 



1839. Sciurtis gigantciis McClelland, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, vii, p. 150. 

 1892. Sciiirus bicolor Thomas, Ann. Mus. Civ. Storia Nat. Geneva, ser. 2, 

 Vol. X, p. 20. Not of Sparram. 



Type locality. — Assam. 



Characters. — Size very large (total length about i m., hind foot 

 about 90 mm.); ears distinctly tufted; general color black above, 

 tawny yellow^ below, the latter extending down front legs to wrists, 

 but strictly confined to inner surface ; skull with nasal bones narrowed 

 posteriorly, and with audital bullte broad and low. 



Color. — Back, sides, top of head, ears, outer surface of legs, dorsal 

 surface of feet, and entire tail glossy black. The color at first sight 

 appears to be pure, but on close inspection it is seen that while the 

 longer hairs are actually black the shorter hairs of the underfur are 

 deep reddish brown, and that each is very faintly tipped with a minute 

 yellowish speck. In certain lights the reddish under color becomes 

 very apparent, while in others the yellowish tips of the shorter hairs 

 produce a distinct variegation. The hairs of the tail are black at the 

 tips only ; the greater portion of each is distinctly tinged with reddish 

 brown. Cheeks, entire ventral surface of head and body, and inner 

 side of front legs to wrists tawny yellow (very nearly the orange buff 

 of Ridgway). This color extends down inner side of thighs, but on 

 lower leg it soon becomes mixed with black, practically disappearing 

 between knee and ankle. A black stripe about 30 mm. in length runs 

 backward under eye from base of whiskers. It is separated by the 

 yellow of cheek from both eye and lip. Two small black spots on chin. 



Skull. — The skull of Ratufa gigantea is very large (75 mm. in 

 greatest length). Its general form is that characteristic of the genus. 

 Outer border of nasals converging rapidly and uniformly to point 

 about 6 mm. from posterior border, then nearly parallel. Front border 

 irregularly convex, not double convex as in the other species. Palate 

 strongly concave between premolars. Audital bullae broad and low, 

 a line joining their summits (when skull is held upsidedown) barely 

 clears the tips of the very prominent lateral processes of the basioc- 

 cipital. Mandible heavily built, the ramus exceedingly robust in region 

 between molars and incisor. Angular process broad and short. 



Teeth. — The teeth are heavily built but not peculiar in form. The 

 crowns of the upper teeth in an adult male measure as follows: pre- 

 molar 4x4; first molar 3.6 x 4; second molar 3.6 x 4.4; third 

 molar 4 x 4.4. 



