178 SCIURID^E. 



distichous ; molar teeth tuberculated. Usually of smaller size, otherwise 

 as in Pieromys. 



163. Sciuropterus caniceps. 



GRAY, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. X. 262. BLYTH, Cat. MG.Pteromys 

 senexj HODGSON. Biyom chimbo, Lepch. 



THE GREY-HEADED FLYING SQUIRREL. 



Descr. Entire head iron-gray ; orbits and base of ears deep orange- 

 fulvous j whole body above, with parachute and tail, a mixture of 

 blackish and golden-yelloV ; limbs deep orange-ochreous j margin of 

 parachute albescent ; beneath, the neck whitish, rest of the lower parts 

 pale orange-red ; tip of tail black j ears nearly nude ; tail sub-distichous. 



Length of one, head and body 14 inches ; tail with the hair 16J. 



This species by its long and only slightly distichous tail, its large 

 size, and coloration, is quite a link between Sciuropterus and Pteromys, 

 and I would have preferred classing it with the latter, but for the sake 

 of uniformity with Blyth's Catalogue have placed it as the first of the 

 former group. The pelage is not so fine as in true Pteromys. 



It has been found in Nepal and Sikim. I got one or two specimens 

 only near Darjeeling and it was said to frequent a somewhat lower zone 

 than P. magnificus, viz., from about 4,000 to 6,000 feet. 



Horsfield, in his Catalogue of Mammalia, has Pteromys Pearsoni, Gray, 

 like caniceps, about one-third smaller, paler above and below, head 

 coloured like the back, no orange spot over the eye or at base of ears ; 

 tail flatter and broader. From Darjeeling. I fancy that this must be 

 the young of 8. ccmiceps, or it may be S. villosus, q. v. Blyth does not 

 notice it in his Catalogue. 



Sc. Layardi, Blyth, from Ceylon, is stated to be somewhat allied to 

 S. caniceps. 



164* Sciuropterus fimbriatus. 



GRAY, Mag, Nat. Hist, N. S. I. 584. BLYTH, Cat. 298.Pteromy* 

 Leachii, GRAY 1 



THE GRAY FLYING SQUIRREL, 

 Descr. Fur above pale rufous-brown, or soft gray, varied with blackj 



