496 Observations on the Palm Squirrel. 



border of the third segment is sometimes continued upon the 

 ventral plate. 



Obs. This species differs considerably in habit from the Od. 

 spinipes : it is smaller, rather more robust, more shining, less 

 pilose; the antennas, in both sexes, considerably slighter; the 

 extreme spiral joints, in the male, much less compressed ; the 

 bands of the abdomen much narrower ; and especially in 

 wanting, in that sex, the teeth to the intermediate femora. 



I may conclude with adding that, of the genus Ancistrocerus 

 JVesm., we have evidently very many species, although Wes- 

 mael limits the Belgian ones to four, including, I think incor- 

 rectly, many of the others, which we also possess, as varieties of 

 one or the other of these four. Of the genus SymmorphusJTesw. 

 we have three species ; viz. O. crassicornis Panz., S. elegans 

 Wesm., and Vespa bifasciata Lin. This last genus is dis- 

 tinguished by a more elongate and elegant form, and especially 

 by the terminal joint of the antennas of the male being simple. 



Aug. 20. 1837. 



Art. XL Observations on the Palm Squirrel (Scitirus palmarum 

 of Authors.) By G. R. Waterhouse, Esq., Curator to the 

 Zoological Society of London, &c. 



In the description given by Buffon of the palm squirrel 

 (Histoire Naturclle, torn, x.), two animals are referred to that 

 species which are there stated to differ in their colouring. I 

 have reason to consider these two animals specifically distinct, 

 although I believe they have always been confounded ; and 

 my object in the following observations is, to show that, 

 besides the distinctions mentioned by Buffon, well-marked 

 points of difference may be observed, upon a careful exami- 

 nation, which appear to have escaped the notice of that dis- 

 tinguished naturalist. 



The animal which that author describes in detail (that is, 

 the first specimen mentioned) I imagine is the young of a 

 species of which I have examined some hundreds of skins. 

 It may be described as follows : — 



Above, brown, with three (or five *) longitudinal white lines ; external 

 surface of the limbs greyish; sides of face (below the eye), the chin, 

 throat, under parts of the body, and inner side of limbs, white; tail having 

 the hairs variegated with black, white, and cream-colour. 



The hairs on the head are black at the base, then ochreous, 

 and at the point black ; the ochreous tint, however, is more 

 prevalent, especially on the muzzle, if we except a little lon- 

 gitudinal ridge of black hairs which runs from the tip of the 



* See note *, p. 499. 



