PTEROMYS MAGNIFICUS. 177 



white ; a band across the nose, orbits, whiskers, and feet black ; tail 

 round, bushy, brownish-rufous, tip nearly black. 



Length of one, head and body 14 inches ; tail 16. 



This flying squirrel is found throughout the north-west Himalayas, 

 from Kashmir to Kumaon, usually at a considerable elevation, from 

 6,000 to 10,000 feet, lower in winter ; and in Kashmir it is stated 

 to hybernate during the season. It is often killed near Simla and 

 Landour. 



162. Pteromys magnificus. 



HODGSON. BLYTH, Cat. p. 95. P. chrysothrix, HODGSON. Sciuro* 

 pterus nobilis, GRAY (variety). Biyom, Lepch. 



THE RED-BELLIED FLYING SQUIRREL. 



Descr. Above dark-chestnut, or ochreous-chestnut mixed with black, 

 in some with a golden-yellow mesial line, and an external border of the 

 same ; shoulders and thighs golden-yellow or red ; all the lower parts 

 orange or golden-red, ochreous on the limbs and on the margin of the 

 parachute ; tail somewhat depressed, slightly paler than the back, tipped 

 black for about two inches ; a black zone round the eyes, and mystaceal 

 region also black, between which the nose is pale golden-colour ; chin 

 pale, with a black triangular spot ; ears red. The pelage thick, soft, 

 and glossy. 



Length of one, head and body 16 inches ; tail 22 : of another, head and 

 body 15 ; tail 18. 



This splendid flying squirrel is found in the south-east Himalayas, from 

 Nepal to Bhotan, and also in the Khasya hills, and hill-ranges of Assam. 

 It is not very uncommon near Darjeeling, and used to be more so before 

 the station was so denuded of its fine trees. It frequents the zone from 

 6,000 to 9,000 feet or so, and feeds chiefly on acorns, chestnuts, and other 

 hard fruit ; also on young leaves and shoots. 



In one examined, the intestinal canal was 14 feet long, and the 

 ceecum 20 inches, very capacious and sacculated. 



Various other species are found in the Indian region ; viz., Pteromys 

 cineraceus, Blyth, from Burmah ; P. nitidus, Geoffroy, from the Malayan 

 peninsula ; P. elegans, S. Miiller, from Java ; P.phiUppensiSj Gray, from 

 the Philippines, &c. &c. 



Gen. SCIUROPTERUS, F. Cuvier. 



Char. Tail shorter than the body, flat, and the hairs more or less 



N 



