Observations on the Palm Squirrel. 497 



nose backwards. The hairs on the upper parts of the body 

 (except those which constitute the white lines) have their 

 basal half black, and their apical half rusty-yellow ; the ex- 

 treme points, however, are generally blackish, and some of the 

 hairs are totally black. The general tint produced by this 

 mixture of colour is deep brown. A slender line, which is 

 generally of a deep cream colour, runs along the middle of the 

 back, and extends from the occiput to the root of the tail : 

 parallel to this (leaving an interstice of about four lines in width) 

 is another line, which is almost always white; this line com- 

 mences at the root of the tail, and is continued, along the 

 body, as it were through the ear, and over the top of the 

 eye. On the outer side this line is bounded by a band which 

 is almost black, and which commences on the shoulders, 

 (where it is very narrow), and extends almost to the root of 

 the tail : in the middle it is about four lines in width, but to- 

 wards the haunches, as well as at the shoulders, it blends into 

 the general gray hue, which covers those parts, and likewise 

 the external side of the limbs. The sides of the body (be- 

 tween the fore and hind legs) are of a pale greyish-yellow 

 hue ; this tint, however, is separated from the dark bend just 

 described by a yellowish white line. The sides of the muzzle, 

 and that part of the face which is below the eyes, as well as 

 all the under parts, are white or approaching more or less to 

 cream colour. The hair which covers the upper surface of 

 the feet is white, cream-colour, or sometimes grey-white. The 

 hairs of the tail are of a dirty pale yellow at the base : this Is 

 followed in succession by black, pale yellow, then again black, 

 and ultimately white; the two latter colours being more con- 

 spicuous. The ears are covered internally with short yel- 

 lowish-white hairs, and externally with minute hairs of the 

 same colours as those on the top of the head. 



The above description is drawn up with considerable care, 

 in order that I may point out more clearly the distinctions 

 between the animal just described, and that which I am about 

 to notice. 



The general tint of the upper parts of this latter animal is 

 usually rusty red on the head, greyish over the shoulders, 

 black on the middle of the back, and of a rust colour over the 

 haunches. The sides of the face are yellowish rust colour ; 

 the sides of the body, the feet, and the outer side of the fore 

 legs are grey ; the outer portion of the hind legs is grey, with 

 a yellowish, and sometimes rusty, tint ; the chin, throat, under 

 part of body, and the inner side of the limbs are white. The 

 rump is of a deep rust-colour, and so, likewise, is the under 

 side of the tail at the base. A longitudinal white or yellowish 



Vol. I. — No. 9. n. s. o o 



