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bright reddish rufous. Tail long, of four different colors, first 2^ 

 inches lil^e the back, next 5 inches bright rufous, mixed with a 

 few shining black hairs, next 5 inches indistinctly ringed with 

 black and white, and last 2^ inches black. Abrupt line of ter- 

 mination between hair of sides and abdomen, grayish along this 

 line ; blackish about and behind the ears, which are slightly tufted ; 

 hair rather harsh. Length from the tip of the nose to base of 

 tail, 11^ inches; length of tail, 15 inches. 



It is called " Mboko " by the natives, and may properly be styled 

 the " ivory-eater." 



This species of squirrel is one of the most remarkable animals 

 I have met in western equatorial Africa. The Mboko is known 

 in that region as the great ivory-eater. It shows a curious par- 

 tiality for ivory, and loves to feed on the newly fallen tusks of the 

 elephant, but does not touch them after they have lain on the 

 ground long enough to lose the animal matter ; many tusks are 

 found with the marks of its teeth. 



The fame of the Mboko has gone out even among the tribes inhab- 

 iting the country where it is not found, and, though it is not met 

 with on the sea-shore between two degrees north and south of the 

 equator, all the tribes know the animal by reputation. The por- 

 cupine of this part of Africa is said by the natives to feed some- 

 times on the tusks of the elephant. 



This species was discovered by me in the mountains of the 

 interior, where the Ovenga River takes its source, at a distance 

 of about one hundred and forty miles from the coast, and one de- 

 gree south of the equator. 



SciURUS WiLSONi. General color above mixed rufous and 

 black, the rufous prevailing on the outside of the limbs ; lower 

 parts scantily furnished with yellowish rufous hair ; throat yellow- 

 ish white ; tail very bushy and silky, with a purplish red tinge, 

 tipped with whitish ; whiskers black ; teeth reddish orange ; ab- 

 rupt line of termination between hair of the sides and abdomen. 

 Length from the tip of the nose to base of tail, llf inches; 

 length of tail, 11 J- inches. 



I propose the name of Wilsoni for this species in honor of my 

 good and dear friend. Rev. John Leighton Wilson, D. D., of New 



