364 



229. Pteromys magnificus. Hodgson's Flying-Squirrel. 



Sciuropterus magnificus, Hodgson, J. A. 8. B. v, p. 231 (1836). 

 Pteromys magnificus, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xvi, p. 8130, xxviii, p. 277 ; 



id. Cat. p. 95 ; Jerdon, Mam. p. 177 ; Anderson, An. Zool. lies. 



p. 285. 



Sciuropterus nobilis, Gray, A. M. N. H. x, p. 203 (1842). 

 Sciuropterus chrysothrix, Hodgson, J. A. S. B. xiii, p. 67, pi. i, 



fig. 1 (1844). 

 Surdj-bhdgat, H. ; Biyom, Lepcha. 



Ears thinly clad, of moderate size. Skull shorter and broader 

 than in P. oral and P. inornatus, and with the snout blunter. Hind 

 foot as in P. inornatus. 



Colour above varying, probably with the time of year. In 

 P. nobilis or chrysothrix, which 1 suppose to be the summer garb, the 

 body, neck, and head above are deep maroon, generally with a more 

 or less well-marked yellow median line, commencing with a broad 

 spot on the forehead. Sides of the neck and inner border of para- 

 chute, where it joins the body, yellowish buff, remainder of para- 

 chute rufous, often chestnut. 



In the other phase, probably winter fur (P. magnificus}, there is 

 no median dorsal line, the body and head are chestnut above, more 

 or less grizzled by some of the longer hairs being whitish near the 

 tip, but the body above is always darker than the parachute. The 

 dorsal hairs are dark ashy at the base. The feet are chestnut or 

 black ; the tail rufous with a well-defined black tip, the lower 

 parts pale rufous. 



Dimensions. Head and body 16 inches, tail 18 to 22, hind foot 

 3, ear 1^ ; weight 3| Ibs. Basal length "of a skull 2-5, extreme 

 length 2-8, zygomatic breadth 1-95. 



Distribution. The Himalayas from Nepal eastwards and the 

 ranges south of the Assam valley, at elevations from 6000 to 

 9000 feet. 



Habits. So far as known similar to those of P. oral. Hodgson's 

 flying-squirrel is said by Jerdon to live on acorns, chestnuts, and 

 other hard fruits, also on young leaves and shoots. Hodgson states 

 that P. magnificus breeds in the rains in hollows of trees, and 

 that it seems to produce but a single young one. The young are 

 tolerably independent of the mother in September, but the para- 

 chute is much less developed than in adults. 



230. Pteromys yunnanensis. Anderson's Flying-Squirrel. 



Pteromys yunnanensis, Anderson, A. M. N. H. (4) xvi, p. 282 (1875) ; 

 id. An. Zool. Res. p. 282, pi. xxii. 



Similar in form to P. magnificus but apparently with larger feet. 



Colour above bay, the fur of the head and body more or less 

 thickly sprinkled over with white tips, giving a hoary appearance ; 

 the white tips are almost or quite wanting on the parachute, which 



