FTEROMYS. 363 



growing slower, becomes horizontal and finally terminates in an 

 ascent to the trunk or branch of the tree to which its flight is 

 directed. The movement of a flying-squirrel through the air must 

 be similar to that of Galeopithecus, and in both cases the power of 

 directing and, so to speak, steering its course must be possessed by 

 the animal. Jerdon states that he has seen P. oral traverse a dis- 

 tance of sixty yards from tree to tree, and McMaster records a 

 flight across the Prome road, near Eangoon, of nearly eighty yards. 



Flying-squirrels are said to breed in holes of trees, but very little 

 is known of the breeding-habits. These animals are easily tamed, 

 but they are delicate, and but rarely live long in confinement. Most 

 of the above details are from Tick'ell. 



The name philippensis must have been given to the present 

 species under the supposition that a Philippine flying-squirrel is 

 identical. As this is not the case, the name is misleading and 

 canuot be used. 



228. Pteromys inornatus. The large red Flying-Squirrel. 



Pteromys albiventer, Gray, Charlesioorth's Mag. N. H. i, p. 584 



(1837) ; Blyth, J. A. S. B. xvi, p. 865, xvii, p. 84 ; Anderson, An. 



Zool. Res. p. 286 ; nee Gray and Hardwicke, III. Ind. Zool. 

 Pteromys inornatus, Geoffroy, Jacquemont, Voyat/e, iv, Mam. p. 62, 



Atlas, ii, pi. iv (1844) ; Blyth, J. A. S. B. xxv'iii,p. 277 ; id. Cat 



p. 95 ; Jerdon, Mam. p. 176. 

 Pteromys magnificus, Hodgson, apud Sclater, P. Z. S. 1872, p. 635, 



pi. 1, nee Hodgson. 

 Rusi ffuaar, Kashmiri. 



Structure very similar to that of P. oral and skull of the same 

 form. The large metatarsal pad joins the inner toe-pad on the 

 hind foot. No supplementary pad. 



Colour above chestnut, sometimes nearly uniform, sometimes the 

 back and head much paler than the parachute, owing to the longer 

 hairs being in part pale rufous or white. Dorsal fur at base dark 

 ashy to blackish, then pale rufous passing into deep ferruginous, 

 many of the longer hairs white or pale bright rufous for some dis- 

 tance near the end, and tipped black. Feet often black, also the 

 orbits, whiskers, and a narrow band across the nose. Cheeks below 

 the eyes grey or white. Tail rufous or brownish rufous, with a 

 well-defiued "black tip, the hairs towards the base of the tail often 

 with black terminations. Lower parts pale rufous. 



Dimensions. Head and body 14 inches, tail 16, according to 

 Jerdon. I believe, however, this squirrel grows nearly if not quite 

 to the same size as P. oral. An adult skull is 2-85 inches long in 

 extreme length and 1'85 broad across the zygomatic arches. 



Distribution. The Western Himalayas, from 6000 to 10,000 ft., 

 extending west to Murree, common in Kashmir and about Simla, 

 found in Kumaon and in Nepal (Katmandu). 



Habits. Precisely similar, so far as known, to those of P. oral 

 In Kashmir P. inornatus inhabits fir-trees and is said to hibernate, 



2c 



