64 



of eighty or a hundred yards, sailing silently from the upper 

 branches of some thickly foliaged and very lofty tree towards a 

 lower one, and scarcely visible through the dim morning light and 

 deep forest shade. 



One I have seen in captivity appeared to'pass the greater part of 

 each day in sleeping in the positions mentioned by Tickell and 

 quoted at page 175 of Jerdon, viz., " either sitting with its back 

 " bent into a circle, and its head thrust down to its belly or lying 

 " on its back with the wings and parachute extended." 



No- 43- Sciuropterus Phayrei? 



JERDON, No. 167, PAGE 180 ; SMALL FLYING SQUIRREL. 



1 caught, or rather some crows did for me, while at Shuay Gheen 

 in Burmah, a very beautiful specimen of a very small flying 

 squirrel, probably, " S. Phayrei," page 180 of Jerdon. It lived for 

 some days in confinement, was very gentle and fearless, eating plan- 

 tains freely. I gave it to Major Berdmore, who sent it, I think, to 

 the Calcutta Museum, and it is probably the specimen mentioned 

 by Doctor Mason in his work on Burmah. It was in shape nearly 

 a perfect miniature of the larger flying squirrel, but with even more 

 delicate tinting of the soft fur. 



No- 44- Gerbillus Indians- 



JERDON, No. 170, PAGE 184 ; THE INDIAN JERBOA RAT. 



I can corroborate Mr. W. Elliot's statement, quoted by Jerdon at 

 page 185, that this beautiful species of rat is in the habit of " making 

 " astonishing leaps." I have seen them when released from a trap, 

 baffle and elude dogs in the most extraordinary manner by wonder- 

 ful jumps made over the backs, and apparently into the very teeth 

 of their pursuers. Jerdon may well say, vide page 185, that, " it 

 " is certainly the most elegant and graceful of the family, and well 

 " deserves the name of the antelope rat, equally from its color, 

 " activity and fine, full, gazelle-like eyes." I have heard this name 

 applied to them by natives. 



