276 MamMALIA OF- INDIA. 
extremely difficult to seize on any point wherein they differ.” After 
comparison of the above with skulls of .S. gviseimanus and S. Phayrei, he 
adds: “such facts taken in conjunction with those mentioned under 
S. Blanfordii, suggest that there is a very intimate connection between 
all of these forms, if they do not ultimately prove to be identical” 
(‘ Anat. and Zool. Researches,’ pp. 229, 231). 
Blyth also, speaking of the larger squirrels, says: “It is difficult to 
conceive of the whole series as other than permanent varieties of one 
species ; and the same remark applies to the races of Preromys, and at 
least to some of those of Sciwropterus, as also to various named 
Sciuri” (‘Cat. Mam.,’ p. 98). 
The large forest squirrels come first on our list. They inhabit lofty 
tree jungle, making their nests on the tops of the tallest trees. They 
are most active in their habits, and are strictly arboreal, being awkward 
on the ground. When kept as pets they become very tame, though 
some are crotchety tempered, and bite severely. 
No. 273. Sclurus INDIcUs. 
(Sciurus Malabaricus and S. Elphinstonei in Jerdon, Nos. 148 and 150.) 
The Bombay Squirrel of Pennant. 
NativE Names.—/angli-gilheri, Hindi; Shekra, Mahrathi; <es- 
annalu, Canarese of the Halapyks. 
Hasitat.—The dense forests of the Western Ghats, but extending 
easterly as far as Midnapore and Cuttack. 
DescriIpTION.— Upper surface of body dark maroon red, lower part 
of back and rump and upper portions of limbs and the whole of the 
tail black, the latter ending in a broad brownish-yellow tip; the outside 
of the hind-legs and half-way down the outside of the fore-legs a uniform 
rich maroon red ; the under parts from chin to vent, inside of limbs, 
lower part of fore-legs, the inter-aural region and the cheeks bright orange 
yellow ; forehead and nose reddish-brown, with white hairs interspersed ; 
ears smail and tufted ; a narrow maroon line from the anterior angle of 
the ear extends downwards to the side of the neck, with a yellow line 
behind it ; whiskers and bristles black. 
Dr. Anderson also remarks on the skull of this species that it is con- 
siderably smaller than that of S. maximus, and has a narrower and less 
concave inter-orbital space ; the nasals are also broader posteriorly, and 
less dilated anteriorly, the upper dental line being also shorter. 
S1zE.—Head and body, 20 inches; tail, 15} inches. 
Jerdon’s description of this animal is taken verbatim from Sykes, 
who named it after the Honourable Mountstuart Elphinstone, under the 
