1 86 NATURAL HISTORY ESSAYS 



of Capper's squirrel {S. leucotis), though the 

 American form is entirely black. 



Prevost's squirrel soon becomes tame in captivity, 

 and makes a very charming pet ; specimens of the 

 var. rafflesi ( = sumatramis) are frequently brought 

 alive to England. The first prevosti exhibited in 

 the London Zoological Gardens seems to have been 

 purchased on May 29, 1877; it came from Malacca. 

 The present writer well remembers a very tame one 

 livinof there in the now demolished Small Mammals' 

 House. These animals are offered for sale by the 

 London dealers, though they are by no means so 

 well known as they deserve to be ; advertisements of 

 them occasionally appear in the all-embracing 

 columns of the Exchange and Mart. Sprightly, 

 inquisitive, and intelligent, Prevost's squirrel is well 

 worth keeping; its handsome appearance and enter- 

 prising disposition render it a very attractive subject 

 for study. Moreover, this animal's constitution is 

 fairly tough, and with a little artificial heat in cold 

 weather and good warm bedding it will come 

 triumphantly through an English winter. No less 

 than nine living specimens have come under the 

 writer's notice at various times and in various places, 

 and the results of his observations are herewith 

 communicated. 



The first point that attracts attention is the remark- 

 able pseudo-musteline fashion in which this squirrel 

 runs alone a branch. The head is not raised, and the 



