TUPAIA. 211 



indistinct, before each shoulder. Lower parts yellowish buff w ith 

 more or less of a brownish tinge. Under surface of tail paler. Bas:il 

 portion (generally half or more) of dorsal fur leaden black, terminal 

 portion of shorter hairs yellowish white or pale rufous, the longer 

 and coarser hairs having beyond the pale ring a long black tip, 

 sometimes with a second subterminal pale ring. Long tail-hairs 

 with alternating subequal rings of black and rufescent white, about 

 three of each, the basal ring pale. 



Dimensions. Head and body 0-5 to 7"75 inches, tail without hair 

 G to 7, with hair 7 to 8, hind foot without claws 1*7; total length 

 of skull 1*70, basal length 1*56, zygomatic breadth 0"9. 



Varieties. By most writers the northern or Burmese race is 

 distinguished, as T. helanrjen or T. per/uana, from that found in 

 the Malay Peninsula and Islands, the true T. ferruginea, the colour 

 of the former being yellowish brown, of the latter deep rusty 

 brown. There appears, however, to be a passage between the t\^■o, 

 many Tenasseriui specimens being intermediate in coloration, with 

 the lower back and rump ferruginous. Some differences in the 

 form of the teeth and skidl liave been pointed out by Anderson 

 and Thomas, but, so f;ir as I can determine, they are not constant. 

 A form from Yunnan and the hills of Upper Burma, near Bhamo, 

 has been separated by Anderson as T. chinensis ; but I feel doubtful 

 if the characters pointed out (rather smaller size, and smaller 

 teeth) justify specific distinction. 



Distrihation. Throughout Burma, extending to Assam, and 

 along the lower slopes of the Himalayas, between 3000 and 6000 

 feet according to Jerdon, as far west as Nepal. To the south- 

 ward the rufous form extends to the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, 

 Java, and Borneo. A specimen was obtained by Dr. Stoliczka on 

 the island of Preparis, north of the Andamans. 



Habits. This tree-shrew is found in tree-forest, sometimes in 

 bamboos, in bushes, or trees about villages, and in Burma, accord- 

 ing to both Mason and McMaster, in houses, living singly or in 

 pairs. Both insects and fruit are eaten by it, and according to the 

 natives of Sikhim small birds and mice. These animals are active, 

 but McMaster considers theui mucli less so than squirrels, and I am 

 disposed to think he is right. Cantor, who appears to have kept 

 several in confinement, states that they sit on their haunches when 

 feeding, " holding their food between their fore legs, and, after feed- 

 ing, they smooth the head and face with both fore paws, and lick 

 the lips and palms. They are also fond of water, both to drink and 

 bathe in.'' 



According to tlie same observer, these tree-shrews are pugna- 

 cious, driving away all intruders of their own species from their 

 usual hunting-grounds, and h'ghting each other when confined in 

 a cage. Their call is a " short, peculiar tremulous whistling sound," 

 when angry they utter " shrill protracted cries." Very little is known 

 of their reproductive habits ; the female is said usually to have 

 only one young one at a time. They are easily tamed, and become 

 at times, of their owji accord, very familiar, entering houses, 



p2 



