PTEROMYS. 365 



is rather more rufous. Lower parts white, tinged with rufous 

 near the parachute border and in the median line. Feet a little 

 darker than body, not black. Tail rufous grey, becoming darker 

 and blackish towards the end, but with no defined black tip. 



Dimensions. Hind foot without claws 3'25 inches. In skins the 

 head and body measure 18, tail 22. 



Distribution. Hills south of Assam valley, extending eastward to 

 Yunnan. 



The specimen above described was from Cachar. The typical 

 form from Tunnan has the tail black almost throughout. It is 

 possible that this form passes into the Eastern Tibetan P. alboruftis, 

 to \\hich Mr. W- L. Selater informs me that he refers specimens 

 from Assam and Burma. 



231. Pteromys caniceps. The grey-headed Flt/inr/Squirrel. 



Sciuropterus caniceps, Grm/, A. M. N. H. x, p. 262 (1842) ; Blyth, 

 J. A. S. B. xvi, p. 806 ; id. Cat. p. 96 ; Jerdon, Mam. p. 178. 



Sciuropterus senex, Hodyson, J. A. S. B. xiii, p. 68, pi. i, tig. 2 (1843). 



Pteromys caniceps, Gray, Cat. Mam. ^c. Nepcd ^- Thibet., 1840, p. 21 ; 

 Anderson, An. Zool. lies. p. 287. 



Ears large, thin, almost naked. Skull smaller than in P. oral oi" 

 P. maynijicus. Metatarsal pad not in contact with toe-pad. 



Colour above nearly uniform rufous-brown, the dorsal fur dark 

 ashy at the base, then brown, pale rufous towards the end, and the 

 tip black. Head throughout ashy grey or dull brown, finely 

 speckled. Lower parts rufous, sometimes light chestnut, generally 

 paler. Eeet dull rusty red. Tail reddish brown like the back, the 

 tip sometimes, not always, dusky or black. 



Dimensions. Head and body 14 inches, tail without hair 16, with 

 hair 18, ear I5, hind foot 2| ; weight 2 lbs. Basal length of skull 

 2'2, extreme length 2-6, zygomatic breadth 1"6. 



Distribution. Nepal and ISikhim, ranging w est as far as Landour 

 at a lower elevation than P. maynijicus, about 4000 to 6000 feet. 



The true P. ]?etaurista of Pallas {P. nitidus of most authors), 

 from the Malay peninsula and islands, may extend its range to 

 Tenasserim. P. melanopterus and P. alborufus are found in Eastern 

 Tibet and Southern China. All are closely allied to P. macinificus. 



232. Pteromys punctatus. The spotted Flying-Squirrel. 



Pteromys punctatus, Gray, A. M. N. H. xviii, p. 211 (1840) ; Blyth, 

 J. A. S. B. xxviii, p. 277. 



Ears almost naked except towards the base. 



Colour. Upper parts rich yellowish brown, darker on tlie head, 

 more rnfous on the parachute and limbs ; back and crown w ith 

 small irregular white spots, composed of hairs that are white 

 throughout, basal portion of all other hairs on upper parts dusky. 

 Lo\^er parts and sides of head pale rufous, deeper towards the 

 edge of the parachute. Tail light rufous brown throughout. 



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