Zoological Society, 531 



that of the foremost of the two upper true molars in Genetta, but is 

 proportionately rather smaller and the tubercles are somewhat more 

 developed. The true molar of the lower jaw is a mere rudimentary- 

 tooth, and differs from that of Genetta and other Viverridce, not only 

 in its small size, but in being of a compressed form : its cutting edge 

 is divided by notches into three parts. 



In the possession of but one true molar in the upper jaAV, Priono- 

 don would appear to approach the Felidce ; but the structure of this 

 tooth, it must be observed, is essentially the same as in the Viver- 

 ridcE, and it is combined with a small true molar in the lower jaw, 

 which is never found in the Cats. 



On the whole, Prionodon approaches most nearly to the Genets as 

 regards its dentition ; but in the general structure of the skull, Mr. 

 Waterhouse observed, it evinced an affinity with the Paradoxuri, to 

 which group it appeared to be linked by the Paradoxurns Derbiunus, 

 or Hemigalea Zebra. Links are nevertheless w^anting to prove that 

 Prionodon should be regarded as an offset from the Paradoxurine 

 group. 



One of the two Squirrels alluded to is the Sciurus epJdppiim, de- 

 scribed in Dr. MiiUer's great work on the Zoology of the Dutch Pos- 

 sessions in the Indian Archipelago. The other closely resembles the 

 Sc. Pi-evostii or Rafflesii, and may be a variety of that species ; it 

 differs in being smaller ; the cheeks are freely pencilled with rusty 

 red, instead of being grey as in Rafflesii, and the sides of the muzzle 

 are of the same reddish hue, not having the w^hite patch which is 

 observable in Sir S. Raffles's Sumatran specimen; the outer side of 

 the thighs has a grey tint, produced by the admixture of black and 

 white ; the hairs being of the former colour, but white or yellowish 

 white at the point. In the type of Rafflesii the same pai't is furnished 

 with uniform white hairs, excepting the hinder part of the thigh, 

 which is black. The tail is uniform black in that animal, but the 

 Bornean specimen has the hairs tipped with white in such a way as 

 to produce rings ; these rings, however, do not extend to the apical 

 portion of the tail, about two inches of which is uniform black. The 

 hairs covering the ears are partly black, but chiefly of the same rich 

 rusty red as are all the under parts of the animal. The Sumatran 

 animal has black ears. Dr. Midler, in the work before quoted, de- 

 scribes specimens of a squirrel from Borneo, w^hich he regards as a 

 variety of Sc. Rafflesii, and which agree closely with the specimen 

 from Mr. Brooke's collection ; this, however, has the hairs on the 

 upper parts of the body of an uniform glossy black colour ; Dr. Miil- 

 ler observes they are generally terminated with yellowish points in 

 the specimens he met with. 



Sept 13. — William Yarrell, Esq., Vice-President, in the Chair. 



The first paper read was from J. O. Westwood, Esq. It contains 

 descriptions of some Coleopterous Insects from tropical Africa, be- 

 longing to the section Heteromera, and is the continuation of a 

 paper on the same subject, communicated to the Society August 24th, 

 1841, an abstract of which will be found in the * Proceedings' of that 

 date. 



