73-4 On a new Webt- African Squirrel. 



light brcn-n, the general effect markedly different from the 

 reddish colour of io?/c?t and true auriculatus. Flanks much 

 the same colour as back^ paler and more generally speckled 

 uith yelloAvish olivCj especially near the central surface. 

 Light lateral stripes rather clearer than in the Cameroon 

 species, posterior portions broken up into distinct light 

 yellowish spots. Limbs similar in colour to shoulders, the 

 hind limbs fairly sharply marked off from the buff tint of 

 the rump and posterior back. Face, forehead, and back of 

 liead bright orange-rufous (dead leaf no. 3, ' E^pertoire de 

 Couleurs''), without the conspicuous black speckling present 

 in boydi, the entire head appearing rufous. Dark patches 

 behind ears fairly "well defined. Backs of hands and feet dull 

 brownish red, rather similar in colour to those of true auri- 

 culatus, much less rufous than in boydi. Ventral surface of 

 body pale buff, a great deal paler than in the allied forms. 

 Tail as in auriculatus. 



The skull of the type is unfortunately missing, as is also 

 the skull of the only other specimen of this new form, but 

 the general characters of the skin leave no room for doubt 

 as regards its affinities with the auriculatus group. 

 Dimensions of the type (measured in the flesh) : — 

 Head and body 184 mm. ; tail 154; hind foot 45 ; ear 18. 

 Hal). Oban District, Southern Nigeria. Altitude 500 feet. 

 Type. Adult male. B.M. no. 11. 11. 16. 1. Original 

 number 4.2. Collected by Mr. P. A. Talbot on September 

 23rd, 1911, and presented by him to the British ]\luseunx. 



This handsome squirrel is readily distinguished from the 

 allied forms by the fright yellowish coloration of the hind- 

 quarters anei posterior back, the yellowish-olive neck, 

 shoulders and limbs, the almost pure rufous-orange colour 

 of the head, without any conspicuous black speckling, and by 

 the pale buff tint of the entire ventral surface. Funisciurvs 

 auriculatus, a. boydi, and a. beatus are all much more rufous 

 on the back, a great deal darker on the neck and shoulders, 

 richer in colour on the ventral surface, and with the posterior 

 portion of the head speckled with black or yellow and black. 

 Mr. Talbot obtained two specimens of this beautiful new 

 squirrel, both collected near Oban at the conclusion of the 

 journey across Nigeria which he recently made in company 

 Avith i^liss Olive JNIacLeod, and it is in honour of Miss 

 MacLeod that this new form is named. 



