494 'Slv. J. L. Boiihote on the Squirrels 



easily it may be distinguished by size alone, vvhicli is the 

 chief point of difference between this and the preceding 

 species. 



The limits are as follows : — 



Length of 

 Greatest Basal Zygomatic Length of palate to 

 length. length. breadth. nasals. henselion. 



mm. mm. mm. mm. mm. 



R.qigantea. 80—77 62—61 4S-7— 47-5 26— 24o 31—30 

 RMcolur.. 71-5* 57* 4o— 44-5 22— 19o 29—27 



Almost every specimen of the present form is lighter in 

 colour than its larger relative ; but there is no doubt that this 

 colour is due to the "bleaching" process referred to above. 



This species is by far the most variable of the group, and 

 lias in consequence received many names. I have carefully 

 gone over all the original descriptions of the names given in 

 the above synonymy, and am convinced that they all refer to 

 one and the same species. 



^Yitll regard to the limits of its distribution there exists 

 some doubt ; it is certainly commonest in Java and Sumatra, 

 and probably occurs in Borneo. The Museum possesses two 

 specimens labelled N.W. Borneo, which were procured by 

 Mr. Waterstraat ; they are both alike, but differ slightly from 

 examples from the other islands ; and there is also an old skele- 

 ton labelled Borneo, the skull of which agrees perfectly with 

 Javan examples. On the other hand, should this species occur 

 in Borneo it is strange that neither Mr. Hose nor Mr. Everett 

 ever came across it. It seems to me that the balance of 

 evidence is in favour of its being found there, but a few more 

 thoroughly authenticated specimens are required before pro- 

 nouncing a definite opinion. The other locality where its 

 occurrence may be considered somewhat doubtful is in the 

 Malay Peninsula. The Museum contains two specimens 

 from Bankasun, collected by Mr. W. Davison, which, 

 except in being slightly darker, agree in all respects with 

 Javan examples. Mr. Davison was such a careful collector 

 that there can be no doubt that the data given are correct ; it 

 must therefore overlap the range of its larger ally, specimens 

 of which have been got far to the south in the Malay Penin- 

 sula; Mr. Blanford, moreover, describes this species (as a 

 variety of li. gigantea) from the " Irrawady delta and perhaps 

 Martaban and Tenasserim." It probably occupies the low- 

 lying land in the Malay Peninsula, while R. gigantea occupies 

 the hills. 



• Owing to the skulls being imperfect only one measurement was 

 taken. 



