448 Mr. J. L. Bonhote on 



towards tlie tip, and in some cases throughout nearly its 

 entire length, it becomes of the same rufous colour as the 

 underparts. 



The skulls of this species at my disposal are, I regret to 

 say, so imperfect that it is impossible to give a very accurate 

 description. It is a typical Sciurus skull of moderate dimen- 

 sions and presenting no especially salient features. The 

 nasals are of moderate length and taper considerably towards 

 their posterior margin, which is in most cases considerably 

 anterior to the posterior margin of the premaxillaj. Tiie 

 interorbital region is broad and tiie postorbital processes well 

 developed and turning considerably downwards. The brain- 

 case is rather narrow and short. 



Dimensions (from skin): — Head and body 237 millim.; 

 tail 190 ; hind foot 45. 



Skull : greatest length 52 ; length of ])alate from henselion 

 23; zygomatic breadth 32 ; interorbital breadth 19"5 j length 

 of nasals 15; breadth of nasals, ant. 8, post. 5. 



Uab. Sumatra and Malay Peninsula. 



Co-types B.M. 79. 11. 21. 580-1. Bencoolen, Sumatra. 

 Received from the Indian Museum, ex coll. Sir S. Raffles 

 (69 a, b. Bencoolen, Sumatra. Presented by Lady Raffles). 



In making out the characters of this species I have ex- 

 amined the above-mentioned types as well as a large series 

 from the Malay Peninsula. Within certain limits it is very 

 variable, most especially in the colour of its underparts ; 

 but nevertheless, when once allowance has been made for 

 these variations, it forms an easily recognizable and distinct 

 form, the red tip to the tail being a conspicuous and constant 

 mark. I am unable to agree with Mr. G. Miller, Jr., who, 

 in a recent paper, has separated the Northern Malay form 

 from those found in the south of the peninsula. The point 

 of diiFerence seems to be, according to Mr. Miller, in the 

 colour of the underparts, which he states to be much deeper 

 and darker in the northern form. From the series of 

 specimens I have examined, those witli the lightest underparts 

 are certainly from the south ; but I am able to match very 

 deep-coloured specimens from Perak with individuals from 

 both Johore and Singapore. 



Sciurus vittatus tenuirostris^ Miller. 



Sciurus tenuirostris, Miller, Proc. Wash. Acad, Sci. p. 221 (1900). 



This form, which has recently been described by Mr. Miller, 

 may be distinguished from the Sumatran form by tlie absence 

 of the red tip to the tail and the skull having the " rostral 



