SCIUEUS. 235 



These specimens were all killed within a limited distance of each other, viz., 

 between the Siamese frontier, to the east of Moulmein, and Moulmein itself, and 

 within the months of February and March. It is thus improbable that the differ- 

 ences of colour which they manifest are due to mere difference of locality. They 

 may prove to be seasonal changes associated with the period of heat depending on 

 the age the animal may have attained at the time, but, from what I have already 

 stated, neither of the phases can be said to be the permanent pelage of the mature 

 animal. But at the same time the majority of the squirrels that I have met with 

 have been black-backed. Prom other observations I am disposed to beheve that the 

 under surfaces of certain species of Eastern Asiatic Squirrels will be found to be the 

 subjects of quite as remarkable changes of colour. 



The skull of S. atrodorsalis has a striking resemblance to the skull of 

 S. caniceps, but it is sHghtly broader with a somewhat shorter muzzle, and judging 

 from a male skull with the teeth well worn, it would appear to be smaller than that 

 of S. caniceps. It is also distinguished from that species by its smaller teeth. 



The ribs vary from 12 to 13, and the lumbar vertebrae from 7 to 6, and the 

 caudal vertebrae would seem even to range from 24 to 28 in number. 



The type of S.flavimanus, Is. Geoff. St.-HiL, with the exception of its yellow feet, 

 does not differ otherwise from S. hyperythrus, Blyth, which is undoubtedly a phase of 

 S. atrodorsalis. Gray, and in the colour of its muzzle it also corresponds to 

 S. atrodorsalis. The locality, however, from whence ^S'. flavimanus was obtained is 

 uncertain, as Geoff. St.-HUaire did not know whether it came from Ceylon or Cochin 

 China. As no squirrel of this type has hitherto been recorded from Ceylon, it is 

 probable that S. flavimanus came from Cochin China, but as I only know of the 

 form by the type, there is merely sufficient evidence to suggest that S. atrodorsalis 

 may ultimately prove to be identical with it, and I therefore use the latter term until 

 the identity of the two has been established, and in the sense I have here defined it ; 

 but, as I have said, I am disposed to think that, with the exception of the yellow feet, 

 my definition of the species includes S. flavimanus. 



S. atrodorsalis is very common in Martaban, and it apparently ranges south- 

 wards to Malacca, and probably extends its distribution to Cambodja and Cochin 

 China. 



SciURUS BiMACULATUS, Tcmm. 



Sciurus bimaculatus, Temminck, Esq. de Zool. de Guine, 1853 (Append.), p. 251. 

 Sciurus bilineatus (Temminck), A. M.-Edwards, Rech. des Mammif. 1868-74, p. 163. 



This is a squirrel of the same size as S. atrodorsalis. It is a pale, greyish, 

 olive-brown, washed with pale-yellowish ferruginous on the sides of the head, neck, 

 shoulder, sides of body and thighs. The head is concolorous with the back. The 

 fore feet are pale, tending to yellowish- white, but the hind feet are dark, much grizzled 

 vdi\\ black. The under parts are greyish- wliite. The tail at the root is concolorous 

 with the back, but the banding rapidly increases, so that it is more or less banded 

 yellow and blackish. The extreme tip is pure white, preceded by a broad, 1-50 inch. 



