Subspecies of Paraxeru-^ flavivittia, Peters. 309 



witli pure white lateral stripes ; but when tliis dark pelage 

 is worn out it is replaced by another in whicli the hairs 

 have bright ochraceous tips, the general dorsal colour being 

 brightened to a golden or fulvous hue. In this bright coat 

 the ochraceous pigment invades or infects the lateral white 

 stripe to a greater or less extent. Tlie type of P.f. mos- 

 sambicus may be cited as a perfect example of the dark phase, 

 while the subject of the figure of P. /lavivittis given by 

 Peters * is no less definitely illustrative of the bright coat. 



The material now before me indicates that in P./. 7uos- 

 sambiciis the outer surfaces of the fore limbs are at all times 

 ochraceous. Tiie account of the type given by Tiiomas is an 

 excellent description of the dark phase ; but even in the type, 

 with tiie aid of the new material, the beginnings of the 

 changes leading to the bright coat may be recognized. The 

 ochraceous tint of the fore limbs gradually becomes more 

 intense, and, creeping upwards over the shoulders and withers, 

 it tbrms a bright-hued mantle covering part of the neck and 

 the thoracic region of the back. As the mantle is perfected, 

 the ochraceous tint invades the foreniost part of each lateral 

 stripe. The ochraceous grizzle noted by Thomas on the top 

 of the muzzle in the type becomes also more evident as the 

 change proceeds ; this grizzle gradually extends upwards and 

 backwards until the whole top of the head acquires an ochra- 

 ceous hue; but the region between the ears and the nape 

 remains grey long after other parts of the dorsal surface have 

 become ochraceous. From the posterior edge of the perfected 

 thoracic mantle ochraceous-tipped hairs are gradually deve- 

 loped backwards over the lumbar region and the rump, until 

 finally the whole mid-dorsum, the deep-tinted band (which 

 on each side intervenes between the lateral dorsal stripe and 

 the Hank), the fianks, and the outer surfaces of the thighs 

 become fulvou- — the tint, however, continuing to be brightest 

 in the region covered by the mantle. Tlie occipital patch 

 and the lighter grey flank-areas are the last regions affected 

 by the change. 



The tail-hairs appear to be subject to similar changes, but 

 far more extensive material is required before this part of tlie 

 subject can be elucidated. The type in full grey pelage has 

 the ventral .^urtace of the tail strongly ochiaeeous ; this is 

 true also of nos. 80, 81, and 82 in the bright coat. Other 

 specimens, as nos. 87, 88, and 6*3, with coats in an inter- 

 mediate condition, have the lower surf;ice of the tail grey, 

 but on parting the ventral hairs many deeply hidden ochra- 

 ceous hairs are revealed. 



* ' Keiae uacb Mossuinbique,' l8ol', i. Taf. xxix. 



