l6 MAMMALIA. 



Anderson Anat. Zool, Res., p. 236; Jentink Notes Leyd. Mus., v. 



p. 119 ; Thomas P. Z. S., 1886, p. 61. 

 Sciurus hippurus, apud McClelland and Horsfield P, Z. 5., p. 151 (1839) ; 



Horsfield Cat. E. I. Mus., p. 154. 

 Sciurus erythrogaster, Blyth J. A. S. B., x\,^. gjo {1842); lA.J.A.S.B., 



xvi, p. 871 ; id., J. A. S. B., xxiv, p. 473 ; id. Cat., no. 320, p. 102. 

 Macroxus erythrogaster, Gray Ann. Mag. N. H. (3), kx, p. 283 (1867) [pt.] 

 Macroxus punctatissimus, Gra^ Ann. Mag.N. /T. (3), xx, p. 283 (1867). 

 Sciurus gordoni, .i4M£?ersow Z'. Z. S'., p, 140 (1871) ; Blyth J. A. S. B.,yiX\v, 



Burma List, p. 37 ; Anderson Anat. Zool. Res., p, 240, pi. xix. 



Distribution. — Assam from the Garo hills eastwards, Cachar, 

 Manipur, and Upper Burma. 



This species, like the other grizzled squirrels, is an exceedingly 

 variable one, so that it is difficult to say whether it should be treated 

 as a single or as several species ; the form in the Garo hills is dis- 

 tinguished at once by its bright red tail of the same colour as the 

 ventral surface (S. erythraeus Pallas apud Blyth) in the list of 

 specimens " a " to " h " and " z^. " Eastwards in the Naga hills and 

 about Samagooting the red tail-tip becomes black, specimens 

 " j " to" u " in the list ; southward a little in Cachar and Mani- 

 pur the whole dorsal surface becomes very much darker, so that 

 the extreme forms are almost black, this form was named S, 

 erythrogaster by Blyth and Macroxus punctatissimus by Gray, 

 the specimens are lettered from " v " to " a^ "; in Assam proper, 

 the valley of the Brahmapootra, the original Garo hill form is 

 found without any trace of the black tail at all, specimens " b^ " 

 to " g^ "; finally, in Upper Burma a form is found resembling the 

 Assam variety, but distinguished by generally possessing a narrow 

 median line of the same colour as the back running between the 

 bright chestnut of the rest of the ventral surface ; this was described 

 by Anderson as a distinct species under the name of S. gor- 

 doni, and is represented in the list by specimens lettered "h^" to 

 " r^. " As in several of the Assam specimens there are traces of 

 this ventral line, there does not seem to be any reason why S. 

 gordoni should remain distinct. 



a-6. 2 Skins, $ Garo hills. J.Anderson. 

 & skulls. 



c. Skin $ „ ,, H. H. Godwin Austen. 



d. Skin $ Dorengo, Garo hills. Museum Collector, 

 e-/. 2 Skins A. W. Chennell. 



g'h, 2 Stuffed Cherrapoonjee, Khasia hills F. Skipwith (1857), A.S.B. 

 j-m. 4 Skins, East Naga hills, 4-8-75. H. H.Godwin Austen. 

 I skull. 

 «. Skin, skull Dimapur, Naga hills, 19-4- H. H. Godwin Austen, 



$ 75- 

 o-p. 2 Skins H. H. Godwin Austen. 



^ . ? ^ 

 q. Skin Samagooting, Assam. J. Butler. 



r-u. 4 Skins, Naga hills. A. W. Chennell. 



2i I? 



