60 



They manage. when once fired at to conceal themselves in a won- 

 derful way, when their bright colors, large size, exceeding that of 

 an ordinary cat, and great length, body and large tail included, 

 approaching three feet, are taken into consideration. 



No. 39- Sciurus Ferrugineus ? 



JERDON, No. 154, PAGE 170 BED SQUIRREL: 



Is " Sciurus ferruginous" page 170 of Jerdon, the richly- 

 colored and very handsome red squirrel found in lower Burmah ? 



Two or three colonies of these splendid squirrels were always 

 to be found in Kimendine, near Rangoon ; and about a house in 

 which I lived, were almost as impudent as the little Indian pests, 

 the common striped squirrel, page 170 of Jerdon. I tried to tame 

 one caught in a wire rat-trap, but as it would not feed in captivity, 

 had to give it freedom again. I have been told that they always 

 get mangy and out of condition in confinement. The experiment 

 is worth a trial, for I do not know any animals that if they would 

 live in captivity, would make handsomer or more engaging pets. 



No- 40- Sciurus Palmarum- 



JERDON, No. 155, PAGE 170 ; COMMON STRIPED SQUIRREL. 



Although I do not believe that any traveller could be long in 

 Madras without, if he were in good health, having an opportunity 

 of admiring the graceful antics of, or if he were ill of reviling the 

 shrill voice of, this pretty little squirrel, I have been at one station 

 on that coast where they were not to be found. I dare say that 

 they have by this time arrived at Samulcottah in the Northern Cir- 

 cars ; but when I knew that quiet little out-post some years ago, it 

 was free from them, although they, or perhaps the next species 

 mentioned by Jerdon, No. 156, page 171 of his book, " S. Tristria- 

 tus," the "jungle striped squirrel," were abundant in the trees on 

 the road from Rajahmundry, only thirty-one miles off, and in fact to 

 within a much less distance. It is difficult to account for this. 

 Samulcottah was a very old station, where there were at one time 

 an old fort and buildings that would attract these presuming little 



