1G6 SCIURID."E. 



pencilled ears. They are peculiar to South-eastern Asia, including the 

 Archipelago as far as Borneo, attaining their maximum in India. Of these 

 Blyth, though retaining them as species, i-emarks in a foot-note, Cat. 

 IMammal., p. 98, " It is difficult to conceive of the whole series as other 

 than permanent varieties of one species."* There are two or three 

 nearly allied species or races inhabiting the peninsula of India, wherever 

 there ai-e large and lofty forests, but the specific distinctions and the 

 exact geographic limits of each yet require much investigation. 



148. Sciurus malabaricus. 



ScHiNZ. — S. maximusy apud Blyth, Cat. 307. — Horsfield, Cat. 209. 

 — Jungli gilheri, H. 



The Malabar Squirrel. 



Descr. — Ears, nape, back of neck, the back and sides of the bod}^ 

 bright maroon-chestnut ; the posterior part of the back, rump, and upper 

 portion of all the limbs, and the tail, black ; forehead and interocular 

 regions brownish ; muzzle and cheeks rufous ; neck, breast, and lower 

 parts dingy-yellow ; feet rufous in front, yellow internally ; ears small, 

 rounded, very hairy. 



Length, head and body, 16 to 18 inches ; tail with the hair 20-21. 



This race inhabits the southern portions of Malabar, the Wynaad, 

 slopes of the Neelgherries, Travancore, &c. &c. 



149. Sciurus maximus. 



ScHREBER. — Elliot, Cat. 43. — Sc. No. 308, Blyth, Cat. (sine nomine). 

 — Kdt herrcil, Bengal. — Kondeng of Coles. — Karrdt, Hindi. — Rasu and 

 Ratuphar, at Monghyr. — Bet-udaid, Tel. — Per-ioarsti of Gonds. 



The Central Indian Red Squirrel. 



Descr. — Similar to the last, but thei^e is never any black on the croup 

 or thighs, and less on the fore limbs ; the tail more or less black or deep 

 maroon above, usually with a pale yellowish tip ; the under parts are 

 more or less deeply coloured. 



* Theoretically I quite agi-ee with Blyth, but practically we must distinguish 

 tliem as species, as indeed he himself does ; and the samoi'emark might be applied 

 with more or less reason to many other groups of animals. 



