6 MR. J. LEWIS BOXHOTE ON MAMMALS [Jan. 16 



a, h. c? 2 . Pelepak, Johore, 27tli March, 1905. 



c. 2 . Kangka Aming, Johore, 26th May, 1905. 



d. S ■ Mount Austin, Johore, 81st Aug., 1905. 



e. $ . Johore Bahru, 10th May, 1904. 



./: 2 ■ Pasir Gudang, Johore, 26th Feb., 1904. 



';/. 2 . Pasir Gudang, Johore, 11th Ma,y, 1905. 



A. 2 • Woodlands, Singapore I., 15th Aug., 1904. 



?", k. c? 2 • Singapore I., June & Aug. 1904. 



Mr. Miller has made two new species of the Peninsula forms 

 of So. viitatus. He fii-st sepai-ated the N, Malayan foim from 

 those in the south under the name miniaUts, and more recently 

 the Southern Peninsula form has been named jjeninsularis, to 

 distinguish it from the tyjiical Sumatian race. 



The series sent home by Mr. Ivloss has enaliled me to re- 

 consider the matter very thoroughly, and has still further confirmed 

 my opinion that this very variable species cannot be split up 

 into the geograjjhical i-aces proposed by Mr. Miller. 



To take the case of »S'. v. miniattts first of all. It is characterised, 

 compared with specimens from Singapore Island, by having the 

 led of the under parts much darker and the terminal pencil or 

 sometimes the entire distal half of the tail uniform red beneath. 

 The type locality of this subspecies is given as Trong in Lower 

 Siam, but its exact disti'ibution is not stated. 



In the British Museum there are specimens aiiswei'ing to this 

 description fi'om various localities along the whole length of the 

 Peninsula including Singapore Island, so that its distribution 

 would appear to be identical with that of the paler form, as in 

 many localities they are found side by side. 



S. miniatus therefore can on no account be considered as a 

 geographical race or true subspecies, and it must be either a 

 distinct species or a mere colour-variety. The fact that inter- 

 mediates in all stages occvir renders its status as a ti-ue species 

 impossible ; and thei-e are specimens showing on the under parts 

 the deep I'ed of miniatns as well as the lighter orange of true 

 vittatus. These, then, are the reasons for I'egarding miniatus 

 mei'ely as a coloui- variety of S. vittatus. 



Now as regards >S. peuinsidaris. The charactei'S distinguishing 

 it fi'om the true ^S'. vittatus of Sumatra are said to be as follows : 

 " more yellowish undei- parts, less yellowish cheeks," /. e. a jmler 

 variety. 



The types of >S'. vittatus, which are in the British Museimi, are 

 absokitely indistinguishable fi'om specimens taken in the Penin- 

 sula. It should, of course, be noted that Tapanuli Bay, whence 

 Mr. Miller procured his series, which he regarded as typical of 

 tS. vittatus, is a considerable distance from Bencoolen, the type 

 locality ; and the Tapanuli Bay specimens may represent a distinct 

 race, but this is most improbable, as this species also varies con- 

 sidei-ably in Sumatra, since dai'ker specimens with the red tail are 

 also to be found tliere. 



The fact thei'efoi-e emains that Malay specimens may be 



