382 Dr. J. EH. Gray’s Synopsis of the African Squirrels 
Sciurus dimidiatus, Waterh., which he thought might be an 
American squirrel, has much the habit of the African tree- 
squirrels. It will be noticed among the American Squirrels in 
the next Number of the ‘ Annals.’ 
II. Cheek-pouches none. Body covered with flat channelled spines, 
sometimes alge Hs: with short cylindrical bristles, without 
any under. Ears rounded, only slightly raised from the 
head. Terrestrial: Ground-Squirrels. 
6. XERUS. 
Gray, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 1867, p. 271. 
Xerus, Ehrenb., Temm. Esq. 121. Xeros, Peters. 
Geosciurus, Lesson, A. Smith. 
Tamias, sp., Gervais. 
Head moderate; nose rounded. Lars short, nearly naked, 
little raised from the head. Cutting-teeth smooth in front. 
Fur consisting of flat channelled spines, in some species inter- 
mixed with black cylindrical tapering bristles. Front claws 
long. ‘Tail depressed, with two rows of elongated, rigid, droop- 
ing bristles. Male organ very large. 
[“‘ mostly,” in the generic character at p. 271, should be 
“scarcely.” | 
a. Fur consisting only of flat channelled spines ; back grizzled, 
without any longitudinal streak. Xerus. 
b. Fur consisting of flat channelled spines and black cylindrical 
tapering bristles ; back grizzled, with a longitudinal streak 
on each side. Geosciurus. 
Temminck and Gervais have referred to this genus some 
Macroxi. The flattened form of the fur is certainly the best 
character, as that agrees with the terrestrial habit of the animal. 
a. Back grizzled, without any longitudinal streak ; fur consisting 
only of flat channelled spines, Xerus. 
1. Xerus rutilans, Gray, L. M. B. M. 144, 
Sciurus rutilans, Rupp. Atlas, t. 24. 
X. rutilus, Temm. Esq. 
Sciurus rutilus, Schinz. 
Sc. brachyotus, Ehrenb. 8. P. 
Fur reddish grey-brown, punctulated with white ; orbits, nose, 
cheeks, and beneath white; tail-hairs reddish brown; with a 
darker subterminal band and long white tip. 
Hab. Abyssinia, Massana (Riippell’s type in B.M.). 
