V 



3+3 



ON THE ALLOCATION OF THE NAME sif/ni.^ /7.\/. I ) w/.W. 



HORSFIELO. 

 Hv ()i,i.i-u:i.i) Thoma.s, Hritish Museum. 



( Piilili.thfiil In/ pci-itii^niim of til f TniMePi< of tlic British Mmx'um), 



A controversy has recently arisen between Messrs. Robinson 

 and Kloss as to the respective names of the wiiite squirrels of the .Siam 

 M.-iinland and of Si-chansf Island in the f4ulf of Siam. and since I 

 have access to wliat seems the essential piece of evidence in the 

 matter — Horsfield's type — -T may venture to express an opinion on the 

 sul)jept. 



The tiiree recent note? on the subject are as follows: — 

 (1). Kloss, C. B. .lourn. Nat. Hist. Soc. Siam, i, j). IT)?, 

 1915. Discover}' of difference between mainland an<l 

 island forms. Original /iidai/aoiu applied to mainland 

 one, and portus given to that of the island. 

 (2). Robinson, H. C'. Journ. Fed. States Museum, vii. 

 p. 35, 191G. Statement that Kloss was wrong in as- 

 signing jiulai/soni to the mainland squirrel, since it is 

 shown by Wroughton's descriptions of " the type" that 

 it is the smaller, island form. The latter then-fore is 

 trne ji Ilia i/ac III and tlie name la'^lniriU is given to the 

 mainland one. 

 ['■)). Kloss, C. B. Journ. Nat. Hist. Soc. Siam, ii, p. 

 170, lOlG. Reiteration of previous opinion, partly on 

 the ground that Horsfield iiad in his mind the main- 

 land form and (pioted Bulfon's Efureuil hlaac <le Siam, 

 and paitly that Anderson quoted "Siam" as the lo- 

 calitj' of the type of jhilaifioni and might be consi- 

 dered a '■ first revLser" in the matter. 

 In discussing what Horsfield " liad in his mind" and similar 

 lines of argument, Mr. Kloss appears to nie to have overlooked the 

 advisa)>ilify of making inquiiy as to what types exist, bearing on the 

 question. 



Vixr from giving tiie iinnie primarilv to Ibift'oii's ^^'l)ite Sqnirrel 



vol, II. Dix'. r.'ir. 



