SCIURUS. 287 
No. 288. ScIURUS FERRUGINEUS. 
The Rusty-coloured Squirrel. 
Hapitrat.—From Assam to Burmah and Siam, and the adjacent 
islands of Pulo Condor and Sichang. 
DescripTion.—Colouring most diverse, no less than ten named 
species being referable to this one, viz., S. /inlaysoni, S. ferrugincus, 
S. Keraudrenit, S. splendidus, S. cinnamomeus, S. Stamensis, S. splendens, 
S. Germani, S. Bocourtii, S. leucogaster ; some are rich red, one jet black, 
and another is white, but apparently most of the varieties come from 
Siam ; the Assam and Burmah specimens being reddish, of which the 
following description is by Blyth, according to Horsfield’s Catalogue, 
where it is entered as S. Keraudrenii: “Entirely of a deep  rufo- 
ferruginous colour, rather darker above than below; the fur of the 
upper parts somewhat glistening ; toes of all the feet blackish, as in the 
three preceding, and the extreme tip of the tail yellowish-white.” 
- The following group consists of the striped squirrels, a smaller and 
more terrestrial species, allied to the ground squirrels (Zamas). 
No. 289. ScIURUS PALMARUM. 
The Common Indian Ground Squirrel ( Jerdon’s No. 155). 
NaTivE Names.—Gilehri, Hindi; Beral, Lakki, Bengali; Kharri, 
Mahrathi; A/alu, Canarese; Vodata, Telegu; Urta of Waddurs 
(Jerdon). 
Hasitat.—India generally, except in some parts of Malabar and 
North-eastern Bengal. 
DESCRIPTION.—The upper parts are dusky greenish-grey, with five 
yellowish-white dorsal lines, the two outer ones being faint and indistinct ; 
under parts whitish; the hairs of the tail are annulated with red and 
black; ears round. But the colouring varies; some are much darker 
than others; one I have is a deep ferruginous brown between the dorsal 
stripes. 
S1zE.—Head and body, 63 to 7 inches; tail, 53 to 6 inches. 
This beautiful little animal is well known to almost all who have lived 
in India, and itis one of the most engaging and cheerful of all the fre- 
quenters of our Mofussil bungalows, although I have heard the poor little 
creature abused by some in unmeasured terms, as a nuisance on account 
of its piercing voice. I confess to liking even its shrill chatter ; but then 
I am not easily put out by noise, and am rather like the deaf old King 
of Oude, who sits and reads in his cockatoo house, and looks up smilingly, 
as halfa dozen of them give vent to extra diabolical shrieks, and pleasantly 
remarks: “ Ah: the birds are singinga little this morning!” I am not 
