SCIURUS BICOLOR. 



The thumb itself is not lengthened or separated from the toes, but consists of a 

 thick fleshy tubercle, supporting the naU. The claws on the other toes of the fore 

 feet, and all the claws on the hind feet, are acute and greatly compressed, as in 

 other Squirrels. 



The hairy covering on the upper parts is coarse. At the base the separate 

 hairs are supplied with down, but they are rigid, and somewhat bristly at the 

 extremity, and are not regularly applied to the skin ; on the breast and abdomen 

 the fur has a softer texture, and the arms and hands are bordered with a beau- 

 tiful series of hairs, which generally have a deep fulvous tint, and extend laterally 

 from the shoulders towards the ears. The separation between the bristly hairs of 

 the upper parts and the softer fur underneath, is strongly indicated by a line, arising 

 from an abrupt termination of the rough hairs on the sides of the body. From the 

 outer margin of the fore-arm, near the foot, arise several long, stiff, straggling bristles. 



The general enumeration of Indian Sciuri, which was given in the Vllth 

 Number of these Researches, concludes with several species, which, by their size, 

 exceed all the Squirrels that have as yet been discovered in other parts of the world. 

 Tliey have received the names of Sciurus bicolor, Sciurus Leschenaultii, Sciurus 

 Hypoleucos, Sciurus Macrour us, and Sciurus maximus; and while several of these 

 appear to be mere varieties, the distinction of the others may be considered as con- 

 firmed by later investigations. I shall not at present add any remarks to those 

 formerly given, on the probable identity of the Sciurus Macrourus and the Sciurus 

 maximus ; but I shall detail the result of my observations on the Sciurus Leschen- 

 aultii and the Sciurus Hypoleucos. The examinations which I have again instituted, 

 and a more rigorous comparison of the numerous specimens from Java, contained 

 in the Honourable East India Company's Museum, together with the specimens 

 from Siam, and the descriptions of Hamilton and Sparrmann ; with the opinion of 

 my much esteemed friend M. Temminck, have inclined me to consider the Sciurus 

 Hypoleucos, of the Vllth Number of this Work, a mere variety of the Sciurus 

 Leschenaultii ; and I take, therefore, this early opportunity to detail the result of 

 my later investigations. The varieties of the Sciurus Leschenaultii and of the 

 Sciurus bicolor are, in many instances, so strongly marked, that they appear to be 

 distinct species, until the gradual passage of one to the other becomes apparent, by 

 the examination of a large series of specimens. The name of albiceps was first 

 given to the former of these species ; but M. Desmarest observing that it could not 

 be applied with propriety to all the varieties contained in the Museum at Paris, 



