1862.] MR. R. SWINHOE ON THE MAMMALS OF FORMOSA. 359 



bare flesh, and the nails are flesh-brown. Length of body 6f inches ; 

 tail 6^-^. 



I subsequently received a live adult, which I kept for some time 

 in a cage, feeding it on bread and fruits. It was exceedingly fierce, 

 darting at the hand that was thrust towards it, crouching in a corner 

 and glaring savagely at the intruder. It uttered sharp and angry 

 cries. In the dark its pupils, which were round, and not linear, 

 emitted a hollow, greenish light, proving the animal to be nocturnal 

 in its habits. 



12. SCIUROPTERUS KALEBNSIS, U. Sp. 



This is one of the smaller group of Sciuropteri, with flat diverg- 

 ing tails. I have, unfortunately, only a pair of immature specimens, 

 which I purchased from a savage who was fondling them in his 

 bosom, and tried to keep alive without success. Young as my 

 specimens are, they are much larger than the diminutive representa- 

 tive of this species in Japan. This species is most nearly connected, 

 in the style and mottled appearance of its fur, with the Sciuropterus 

 alho-niger of Nepal, but diff'ers in colour. The Javan species {S. 

 horsfieldii) differs from it in having a woollier fur, without any mot- 

 tling. In ours the tail is about two- thirds of the length of the body ; I 

 should say, therefore, that the mature animal would be about 1 6 inches 

 long. Entire upper parts reddish buff, mottled with deep brown ; 

 under parts pale bufi^, rosy on the flanks and under the legs. Teeth 

 white. 



Three species of Flying Squirrels are mentioned in the ' Fauna 

 Japonica,' two as occurring in Japan — Pteromys leucogenys and 

 P. momoga. The latter, it is said, is intermediate in form between 

 the genus Pteromys and Sciuropterus, and we should therefore take it 

 to be more nearly allied to our species S. kaleensis ; but on reading 

 ing Temminck's description, I find that the fur is mentioned as 

 woolly. In ours it is silky, more as represented in his P. setosus, 

 a very diff'erent species, however, from the Indian Archipelago. 



Of the habits of our species I know nothing. 



13. Lepus sinensis. Chinese, Swari'taw (Hill- Rabbit). 



The Hare found in the champaign as well as hilly country of 

 both South-west and North-west Formosa is identical in species with 

 that distributed throughout China, from Canton to Peking. I find in 

 the Chinese as also in the Formosan animals, that the tints vary some- 

 what, and that in some the black on the cheeks and behind the ears 

 is almost entirely wanting. The Formosan specimens are somewhat 

 more brightly coloured, and the rufous on the hind neck is livelier ; 

 whereas the North China Hares are greyer, especially in winter, and 

 more distinctly marked with black. I have two small Leverets from 

 South Formosa : these are of a strong olive hue, densely sprinkled 

 with black hairs. These Hares, both in China and Formosa, retire 

 to the hills in summer to breed, and return again to the plains in 

 winter. They seek shelter in the holes of rocks or grave-mounds, 

 and in these rear their young. They are said to burrow ; but this I am 



