210 MR. R. I. POCOCK ON THE 



lie divided into six genera : — (1) Rheithrosciurus ; (2) Xerus ; (3) 

 Sciurus ; (4) Citellus {SpermophUus) * ; (5) Marmota {ArGtomys) ; 

 (6) Cynomys. Of these, Rheithrosciurus, Citellus, Marmota, and 

 C'ynoinys were not subdivided ; but both Xerus and Sciurus 

 contained several subgenera. 



Xerus was divided into five: — (1) Protoxerus for stangeri, 

 auhinnii and other African species ; (2) Xertis for 7'utilus, cajjensis, 

 and erythr opus ; (3) Ailantoxerus for getulus; (4) Paraxertis iov 

 cepapi, congicus, isahella, lemniscatus, and other African Squirrels ; 

 (5) Fanambulus {Eoxerus) for palmarum, tristriatus, and other 

 related Oriental Squirrels. To systematists the interesting point 

 to notice in connection with Forsyth Major's conception of the 

 genus Xerus is the inclusion in it of certain soft-furred arboreal 

 species of Afi-ican Squirrels {Protoxerus and Funisciurus') and of 

 the Oriental Palm Squirrels (Funambulus). which were previously 

 regarded as more nearly related to Sciurus. 



Sciumcs, according to Forsyth Major, compi-ised three sub- 

 genera: — (1) Ratufa (Fosciurus) for the large Oriental Squirrels 

 indica, bicolor, etc. ; (2) Sciurus, sensu stricto ; (3) Tamias for the 

 Chipmunks or Chipping Squirrels. Ratufa and Tamias were 

 undivided ; but the species of Sciurus were classified in four 

 unnamed groups : (a) comprising certain African species, aiinu- 

 latus, punctatus, rufobrachiatus, and others ; (/3) Oriental species, 

 prevosti, caniceps, notatus, ferrugineus, etc. ; (y) vulgaris, syriacus ; 

 (p) carolinensis, cestuans, aberti, and other American species. 



In 1897 (Proc. Zool. Soc. 1897, p. 933) Thomas revised 

 Major's classification in nomenclature and other points — so far as 

 the genera Rheithrosciurus, Xerus, and Sciurus were concerned. 

 Granting generic value to all Major's subgenera, with the ex- 

 ception of Atlantoxerus which remained a subgenus of Xerus, he 

 assigned the Squirrels to the following eight genera : — Rheithro- 

 sciurus, Protoxerus, Xei'us, Funisciurus, Funambulus, Ratufa, 

 Sciurus, and Tamias. Under each of these generic names, apart 

 from Rheithrosciiorus and Protoxerus, one or more subordinate 

 names appear ; but it is not in all instances clear Avhether these 

 were cited as connoting subgenera or merely as synonyms. In 

 the case of Xerus it seems certain that Geosciurus and Atlantoxerus 

 stood for subgenera ; and jorobably that value was assigned to 

 some at all events of the named divisions of Sciurus, such as 

 Callosciurus and Tamiasciurus. But it is not likely that Ruharia 

 and Eosciurios were looked upon as subgenera of Ratufa ; and it 

 is certain that Palmista was quoted merely as a synonym of 

 Funambulus. Nevertheless great service was done by nailing 

 each name so quoted to a type-species. 



In 1898, De Winton (Ann. Ma,g. Nat. Hist. (7) ii. pp. 12-13) 

 attempted to show that Forsyth Major's genus Protoxerus was 

 heterogeneous, some of the species being Xerus-like and belonging 



* In the case of nos. 4 and 5, I liave adopted the names now in use for the genera, 

 those employed by Forsyth Major being put in brackets. 



