9^2 MB. OiiDFIELD THOMAS OW MAMMALS [DeC. 14, 



25. ScitJEUS MUTABILIS, Pet. 



a. Nyika Plateau, June 1896. 



h, c. Kombe Forest, Masuku Range, Julv 1896. 



d-g. Lakangola, Zomba, 23-28/2/97. 



26. FuNisciTJEUS LUCIFER, Thos. (Plate LIV.) 

 Xerus (Paraxerus) lucifer, above, p. 430. 



a, b. Kombe Forest, Masuku Eange, 7000 ft., July 1896. 

 a. Type (B.M. No. 97.10. 1.80). 



c. Chidewah Mt., two days N.W. of Mt. Waller, 6000 ft., 

 June 1896. 



This splendid Squirrel is at the same time the most beautiful and 

 the most distinct of all the mammalian discoveries made during 

 the recent explorations in Nyasaland, and I have therefore thought 

 it worthy of a figure. So distinct is it that it is difficult to say to 

 what species it is most nearly allied. On the whole its nearest 

 relation may be considered F. pyrrhopus, in spite of the extent to 

 which its brilliant rufous coloration recalls F.palliatus. As it has 

 been already sufficiently described, no further account of it is here 

 necessary, but an explanation of the generic name adopted is 

 required. 



When using in the original description the term Xerus, sub- 

 genus Paraxerus, I was contented to accept provisionally Dr. 

 Forsyth Major's ari-augement of the family ', wherein he assigned 

 about half of the sjjecies commonly termed ^'' Sciums " to Xerus and 

 half to iSciiirus, dividing each of these groups into several subgenera. 

 This general arrangement being founded on such a careful and 

 highly competent examination of the skulls and teeth, it was 

 evident that it could not be ignored, and that systematic workers 

 would have to consider how best they could utilize Dr. Major's 

 invaluable contribution to the subject. Previous classifications 

 had only sorted the Squirrels according to geographical distribution, 

 size, or colour-markings, so that there was the greatest need of 

 such a scientific revision as that now referred to. 



But further consideration has convinced me that it would be 

 most inconvenient, even if the world in general could be brought 

 to do so, to accept the arrangement exactly in its present form, 

 with Tamias a mere subgenus of Sciurus^ with the peculiar, spiny- 

 furred typical Xeri placed in the same genus as such very different 

 forms as the little soft-furred " X." isabdla, and with many other 

 difficulties which would present themselves to every worker on 

 the subject. 



This being the case, I would now venture to suggest that all the 

 subgenera (with the exception of " Atluntoxerus '"') in Dr. Major's 

 scheme should be recognized for ordinary systematic purposes as 

 full genera, especially as all of them have long been considered as 

 perfectly natural groups, and have been arranged as such in the 

 revisions of Trouessart and other authors. 



> P.Z.S. 1893, p. 189. 



