SCIURUS GETULUS. -5!^' 



There are five upper molars ia each jaw: the fifth is 

 a strongly developed tooth. Upper incisors distinctly groo- 

 ved , light orange colored. 



Hab. Marocco, Mogador (Delaporte), prov. Haha (Drum- 

 mond-Hay). 



Nothing is known about the habits of this species. 

 Mounted specimens in the Leyden Museum: 

 1. Adult female, Marocco, died in the Royal Zoological 

 garden at Amsterdam, — 2. Half grown individual , Mogador , 

 Delaporte, 1837, exchanged with the Paris Museum, 1868. 

 3. Skull of n«. 2. 



As it externally resembles the species of the genus 

 Xerus, it has been regarded as belonging to this genus 

 by the majority of naturalists But a closer examination 

 shows that although the ears are very short compared with 

 these organs in the other true Sciuri and the hairs gene- 

 rally rather rigid and flattened , the latter nevertheless show 

 a great difference in structure with the hairs of the true 

 Oround squirrels, viz: they are not nearly so fragile, and 

 not channelled. Moreover the claws are curved as in true 

 Sciuri and not so straight ; this is indicative of a climbing 

 and not of a burrowing habit. 



It still is a very rare species in the collections , two spe- 

 cimens being contained in the Leyden, two in the Paris, 

 four in the British , two in the Berlin and a single indi- 

 vidual, Xeros praetextas Wagner in the Munich Museum. 

 When better known , it may perhaps prove to belong to 

 a genus between Sclurus and Xerus , but for the moment it 

 is most appropriately placed at the end of the genus Sciurus. 

 C. Gessner was the first to describe this species under the 

 name Sciurus gefulus. I did not see the first edition of his 

 book, but consulted the third edition; on page 112 a rather 

 good figure and a very clear description are to be found. 

 The specific title getulus is derived from Getulia, the ancient 

 name of Barbaria, the locality where this species was found. 

 I believe that Mustela africana Clusius and Mastela lyhica 

 Nieremberg also belong to the above named species. 



Notes from tlie Leyden TMuseum, Vol. W. 



