32 SCIURUS PYRROPUS. 



of legs and sides of the body mouse-colored at the base , 

 red tipped. A band , somewhat darker colored than the back 

 and running from shoulder to thigh , separates from each red 

 colored side of the body a smaller) band ') of a lighter color 

 than the sides. Chin, throat, breast, belly and inside of 

 legs covered with pure white hairs. Hairs of the upper parts 

 of tail black with a white ring and a ditto tip; the apex 

 is reddish with large black tips ; below , the hairs are broadly 

 red with a black subapical ring and reddish white tips. 



Inside of ears red , outside white ; a white spot behind 

 each ear. The black eyes are surrounded by a reddish circle. 

 Whiskers black. 



In the different specimens of this species there is a great 

 variation in the mode of coloration of the upper parts of 

 the head , the sides of the body and the upper parts of the fore- 

 legs. In some individuals the head is red or brownish red , 

 the sides of the body like the back but with a lighter tinge 

 and the upper parts of the fore legs reddish brown in- 

 stead of red; in others all these parts have a brown- 

 ish shade: in some specimens a cinereous tinge prevails. 

 That this curious variation has induced several writers and 

 naturalists to describe mere variations as distinct species 

 needs no demonstration. But it is indeed incomprehen- 

 sible how this and the following species are so often re- 

 garded as belonging to the genus Xerus , Scmrus pyrropus 

 and congicus actually being two of the most softly furred 

 Squirrels which exist. 



Length of head and body. 235 



» » tail with tuft 210 



» » » without tuft 165 



» » hind foot 45.5 



» » skull (incomplete) about 51 



Width between the jugalia 28 



•» » » orbits 12.5 



Length of upper molar series 9 



Distance between incisor and first upper molar. ; 12 



J) In some individuals this band is very indistinct. 



^otes trom. the Leyden JMuseum, "Vol- IV. 



