VII.] 



RODENTIA. 



237 



Sennaar to Egypt, and is also stated to occur in Asia Minor. A 

 fossil species from the European Miocene may perhaps belong to 

 this genus. The ratels (Mellivora) which are now represented by 

 one Ethiopian and a second Indian species, are proved to be com- 

 paratively late immigrants from the north into this region by the 

 occurrence of a fossil species in the lower Pliocene of Northern 

 India. As the animal described under the name of Galeriscus is 

 at present known only by a skin, it is not even certain that it 

 belongs to the Mustelidce. at all. 



Among the squirrel-like rodents, the most striking feature is 

 the absence of the true flying-squirrels and their replacement by a 



FIG. 55. FULGENT AFRICAN FLYING-SQUIRREL (Anomalurus fulgens). 



distinct family (Anomaluridce.}, characterised, among other features, 

 by the presence of scales on the under surface of the root of the 

 tail. Mainly characteristic of the forest area, the typical genus 

 Anomalurus has, nevertheless, representatives on the eastern side 



