932 OLDFIELD THOMAS 
dens. One however presents an interesting variation in having 
its flanks and posterior back of the dull yellowish grizzled grey 
characteristic of S. atrodorsalis and S. gordoni. It is just possible 
that this specimen is simply a hybrid between S. /inlaysoni and 
S. gordont, both of which are common at Bhamò; but on the 
other hand, judged in conjunction with the many other peculia- 
rities in the colouration of S. finlaysoni, it gives rise to a su- 
spicion that the present species, with its numerous varieties, 
may after all be merely an erythristic (') form of one of the 
grey species. 
In the same series of colour variations from grey to red there 
occur, firstly “S. siamensis,” Gray, admittedly the same as 
S. finlaysoni, but the types of which have many marked resem- 
blances to the more rufous forms of S. atrodorsalis, secondly 
“ S. splendens var. 4” as described by Gray in 1861 (?) and 
thirdly “ S. sladeni,” Anderson, which appears to be “ S. finlay- 
soni” so far as its head is concerned and “ S. atrodorsalis”’ as 
to its back. 
Throughout the above remarks on these four forms of squirrel 
I have spoken in a very hesitating and tentative way and have 
given them each nominal specific headings, since it seems in- 
credible that such different forms should not be specifically 
distinct; but nevertheless the more specimens I see the more 
I am tempted to believe that S. finlaysoni, sladeni, atrodorsalis, 
gordoni and quinquestriatus, not to mention the numerous “spe- 
cies’’ already referred by Dr. Anderson to one or other of 
them, are only the ramifications of one single species. In this 
species, a greater (*) or less (4) degree of erythrism, combined 
(1) For remarks on erythrism in squirrels, see under S. badjing (or, as it ought 
to be called, S. notatus, Bodd.,) P. Z. S., 1886, p. 77, and for its effects in the case 
of other mammals, compare Cat. Marsupials B. M., p. 198, 1888. 
(?) P. Z. S. 1861, p. 137. Appended to the description of this variety is the following 
sentence, which antedates my own views on the subject by nearly thirty years. 
‘“«This last state would almost lead one to suppose that this squirrel may be only 
a variety of some other species’ (i. e. some species not ‘‘ splendens” at all, but 
grizzled grey). 
(5) As, for example: S. ferrugineus and S. splendens. 
(4) S. sladeni. 
