282 MAMMALIA OF INDIA. 
assuming a variegated appearance during its transition to the breeding 
dress. 
A jet-black squirrel of the same proportion occurs in Sylhet and 
Cachar, which Dr. Anderson is inclined to think belongs also to this 
species. 
We may, therefore, regard the following as being the same as 
S. lokroides, viz., S. Assamensis, S. Blythii, S. similis, and the black one, 
which has apparently not been named. 
Jerdon states that these squirrels are mostly seen in the autumn when 
the chestnuts, of which they are very fond, ripen. 
No. 279. ScIuRUS PYGERYTHRUS. 
Hasitat.—Burmah (Lower Pegu, and common in the neighbourhood 
of Rangoon). 
DESCRIPTION.—Upper parts dark olive grey ; basal third of the tail 
concolorous with the back, its latter two-thirds ringed olive-yellow and 
black ; the tip black ; feet olive grey, sometimes washed with yellowish ; 
under surface and inside of limbs orange yellow, which extends also 
along the middle of the under part of the tail. Paler varieties occur. 
The skull of this species is smaller than those of S. canizeps, S. Phayret 
and S. Blanfordit. 
No. 280. ScIURUS CANICEPS. 
The Golden-backed Squirrel. 
Hasitrat.—Burmah (Upper Tenasserim and Tavoy). 
DescripTion.—General colour grey or fulvous above; limbs outside 
grizzled grey ; feet yellowish-grey ; in some cases the nape, shoulders, 
and upper parts of back are vivid light ferruginous or golden fulvous, 
sometimes extending downwards on to the base of the tail. Some have 
only a trace of this colouring, others none at all. There is infinite 
variety of colouring in this species, as I observed in my remarks on the 
genus, and it is closely allied to the next three, if they do not ultimately 
prove to be the same. 
“ Out of a large series of specimens referable to S. caniceps, the males 
illustrate three phases of colouring, associated with a difference in the 
character of the fur. The first isa grey, the second a yellowish, and the 
third a phase in which the back becomes brilliant yellowish-red.”— 
Anderson. 
No. 281. Scrurus PHAYREI. 
The Laterally-banded or Phayre’s Squirrel, 
Hasitat.—Burmah, Common in Martaban ; has also been obtained 
at Tounghu. 
