284 MAMMALIA OF INDIA. 
bably identical with S. Aygerythrus ; moreover, my impression is that a 
more extensive series will establish their identity with S. caniceps. 
This view of the question is also supported by a small series of these 
squirrels in the Leyden Museum from Tounghu in Upper Burmah, 
presented by the Marquis of Tweeddale. From the characters manifested 
by these squirrels, and the circumstances that they were all shot in one 
locality, they are of great interest. One is an adult, and in its upper 
parts it exactly resembles S. Blanfordii, also in its yellow feet and black 
tip to its tail, but, like S. Payrei, it has a broad blackish-brown lateral 
stripe. The others are smaller, and resemble the foregoing specimens 
in all their characters, except that they have no dark lateral streak, and 
that the feet of two are concolorous with the upper parts, while in the 
remaining squirrel the feet appear to be changing to yellow, as in the 
adult. The two former of these, therefore, conform to the type of S. 
Dygerythrus, but the fur of the upper parts is greyer and not so richly 
coloured as in it, but the annulation of the fur has the same character 
in both. The remaining specimen in its features is distinctly referable 
to S. Blanfordit (‘ Anat. and Zool. Researches,’ p. 232). 
No. 283. ScIURUS ATRODORSALIS. 
The Black-backed Sguirret. 
Hasitat.—Burmah and the Malayan countries Common in 
Martaban. 
DESCRIPTION.—There are two phases of colouring, in which both old 
and young of this species are found: with the black on the back, and 
again without it. In the latter case the upper parts and feet are a 
yellowish-rufous. The upper surface of the head, as far back as to in- 
clude the ears, orange red; under parts and inside of limbs more or less 
chestnut ; under surface of neck orange yellow, with a centre line of the 
same on the chest ; tail variable—in the young it has seven alternate 
orange and black bands, the orange being terminal ; but the adults have 
sometimes only five bands, the apical one so broad as to make a rich 
orange tail with yellowish-white tipped hair. In those with black backs 
the colour of the upper fur is less fulvous, and the chestnut of the lower 
parts is darker; in some the tail has broad orange tipped hairs, whilst 
in others it is, with the exception of the base, wholly black, and not 
annulated. These differences in colouring are not sexual, nor due to 
age. The skull of S. atrodorsalis resembles that of S. caniceps, but is 
broader, with a somewhat shorter muzzle, has smaller teeth, and would 
appear to be, from comparisons made by Dr. Anderson, smaller. 
