Mr. E. Blyth^s Notices of various Mammalia. 451 



would also apjH'ur capaljlc of (lestr(jyiH<;- larpc snakes ; iov his 

 attention was once arrested by the noise which a party of theui 

 were nuiking on the tops of sonic lofty trees overhead, when after 

 a while he was startled by the fall of a Python snake, of about 

 six or seven feet in length, within a few paces. The reptile was 

 nearly dead, or for that matter might have been disabled by the 

 fall; but it had been severely bitten and lacerated, no doubt by 

 the Iloolocks above, who were unquestionably the cause of its 

 precipitation. 



Of the Javanese species {H. leuciscus, F. Cuv.), the Society 

 has lately obtained a tine female specimen, the colouring of which 

 is somewhat remarkable, although nearly resembling that of a 

 male described and ligured in the un])ublished jMSS. and draw- 

 ings of the late Dr. Buchanan Hamilton. General hue pale 

 grayish brown, or rather brownish gray, darker on the nape, 

 shoulders and limbs, and the inside of the thighs blackish ante- 

 riorly ; the outside of the thighs, and the legs and feet above, 

 are pale ; the hands are washed with blackish ; cro^^^l of the 

 head black ; a whitish ring encircles the face ; the throat, sides 

 of the throat, entire under-parts, and especially the lumbar re- 

 gion, are also whitish, but a dark brownish gray line extends 

 down each side of the breast and belly, commencing from the 

 aiTiipits, and terminating in the blackish inner side of the thighs. 

 As compared with the Iloolock, this species has the coat very 

 much more close and woolly, the hair adhering in flakes, more 

 particularly on the back. That of //. Lar (the only additional 

 species we possess) is just intermediate*. 



I also suggested, ujjou the same occasion, that the Tenasserim 



* On the subject of Oraiig-utans, I took the opportunity before referred to, 

 to ofTcr a few remarks. Sijice then the Society has fortunatel}' recovered a fine 

 skull of the male Mias Rambl, presented by Major Gregory which had been 

 missing from their museum, and was consequently unnoticed in my remarks 

 on the genus. I have also lauly received a letter from Mr. James Brooke 

 (of the Ijorneo settlement), wherein that gentleman notices the dark colour 

 of the Ramhi as compared with the Pappan and Kassar. He remarks, " I 

 concur in what you say regarding the Uurmbii and ^belii being referred to 

 one class [species]. The Kassar in every specimen which I have seen is 

 of the same colour as the Wurmhii or Pappan; but the Ramhi is of a dark 

 brown in the two 1 have seen. — one an adult female, the other a young but 

 a large male. The Rambi is probably intermediate in size to the other two 

 species. I am aware how little general importance is to be attached to 

 colour, but among the very numerous specimens of the Pappan and Kassar 

 I never found one of this dark colour, whereas the only two specimens of 

 the Rambi which liave fallen under my notice were both similar and both 

 dark brown. A little further personal inquiry would settle the matter be- 

 yond dispute ; and I hope soon to have the countries open to me, when I 

 shall feel great pleasure in forwarding you specimens citlier of skeletons or 

 skins." 



212 



