374 sciuEiD^. 



winter coat nearly black. There is, moreover, much variation in 

 size, Himalayan squirrels being largest, whilst many of the Malay 

 forms are considerably smaller. The distinction, however, upon 

 which most stress has been laid is the presence or absence of ear- 

 tufts. All Himalayan and Arrakan specimens have, on the outside 

 of the ear-conch, a tuft of long hairs, which is wanting in other 

 Burmese skins, especially those from Tenasserim, and in Malaccan 

 specimens. But there are gradations ; and squirrels of this species 

 with tufted ears are recorded even from Borneo. It should be 

 remembered that the common European squirrel has tufted ears 

 in winter, but not in summer. The difference in the two races of 

 S. hicolor is, probably, due to habitat, the form inhabiting colder 

 countries, such as the Himalayas, having tufted ears. Anderson, 

 Jentink, and others distinguish the larger form with tufted ears as 

 S. giganteus {S. maemroides of other writers). 



Habits. Very similar to those of S. indicus. This species in- 

 habits higb trees, generally in pairs. It feeds on fruits and nuts 

 of various kinds, and is said by Tickell to eat birds' eggs and 

 insects. The voice, according to the same observer, is a loud 

 harsh cackle. 



241. SciuruS macrurus. The grizzled Indian Squirrel. 



Sciurus macrourus*, Pennant, Indian Zoology^ pt. 1, pi. i (1760), 

 teste Erxlehen, Syst. Reyn. An. p. 420 ; Myth, J. A. S. B. xvi, 

 p. 809, pi. xxxvi, fig. 2, xviii, p. (301, xx, p. 165; id. Cat. p. 100; 

 Kelaart, Prod. p. 49 ; Jerdon, Main. p. 108 ; Anderson, An. Zool, 

 Res. p. 224. 



Sciurus ceylouicus, Erxlehen, Syst. Peg. An. p. 410 (1777). 



Sciurus teunantii, Layard, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xviii, p. GOO (1849), xx, 

 p. 105 ; id. Cat. p. 100 ; Kelaart, Prod. p. 50. 



liukiya, Dandolena, Cingalese ; Peria-anathan, Tamul. 



Ear sometimes very slightly tufted, sometimes not. 



Colour. Upper sui'face and tail grey or brownish grey, more or 

 less grizzled with white, especially on the sides and tail, except in 

 the variety S. temianti, in which the upper parts and tail are quite 

 black. A pale band across the crown of the head between the 

 ears. Lower parts with the whole forearm and lower parts of 

 tibia all round buff or whitish. Forehead dark, generally black or 

 blackish ; sides of head and end of muzzle pale ; ears usually dark, 

 but not always. A black streak behind the eye down the side of 

 the neck, often indistinct, but sometimes double. Toes and some- 

 times the whole feet black. Terminal portion of tail 0(;casionally 

 with long white tips to the hairs. Basal half of dorsal fur dark 

 brown, of ventral dusky. 



* <S. macrurus, Gray and Ilardwicke, 111. Ind. Zool. ii, pi. six, is not this 

 species, but, I think, a variety of tS. hicolor. S. albipes, Wyth, J. A. S. B. 

 xxviii, p. 287, though referred to S, macrurus by Anderson, is also, I think, 

 S. hicolor. 



