ORDER RODENTIA. 181 



from the nose to the end of the tail, which is about half 

 that length. In the eastern parts of Java it is generally 

 found with the upper parts of the head and neck, the entire 

 back, the sides of the body, and the limbs dark-coloured ■ 

 but the first varies from intense brown to tawnv and 

 often passes into yellowish-gray. The separate hairs 

 composing the fur have either a uniform dark tint, or are 

 dark only at the base, and yellowish at the extremity. Ac- 

 cording to the distribution of these hairs, the external coat 

 of the animal receives its character. The surface is either 

 uniformly dark-coloured, or it is marked with irregular 

 tawny discolorations, of different shades of intensity 

 spreading in broad transverse bands, or in patches of vari- 

 ous extent. The sides of the neck, the shoulders, the upper 

 parts of the legs and feet, the tip of the nose, and root of the 

 tail are dark, but varying from blackish-brown to chestnut 

 and reddish-brown, and in general a ring of the same colour 

 also surrounds the eyes, but this is not found in the speci- 

 men in Paris, whence our figure was taken. Sometimes 

 there is white across the head and neck, giving the animal 

 the appearance of the white-headed variety of S. Lesche- 

 nault's. 



The under parts of S. Bicolor are generally yellow ; but 

 this again is subject to vary from light fulvous to Isabella 

 yellow. The dark colour of the upper parts is frequently 

 separated from the light under-parts by a darker streak 

 slighty approximating to the peculiarity in that particular of 

 the striated species. The tail is dark at its base only, and 

 in the remainder of its length agrees with the under 

 parts. 



In several specimens, the tawny colour predominates 

 throughout, and only small patches of brown appear on the 

 shoulders, and sides of the neck, and the base of the tail, 

 and in a few instances, the colour of the upper parts is Isa- 

 bella yellow with a grayish cast, while the under parts are 



