258 RODENTIA. 



Syn. Mamm. B.M. 1845, p. 38 j Blyth, Journ. As. Soc. Beng. vol. xvi. 1847, p. 874 ; iUd. vol. xx, 

 1855, p. 166; Cat. Mamm. As. Soc. Mus. 1863, p. 106; Kelaart, Faun. Zeylanica, 1852, 

 p. 52; Jerdon, Mamm. Ind. 1867, p. 170; Zelebor, Reise der Freg. Novara, Saiigeth. 1868, 

 p. 24. 



Sciurus penicillatus, Leach, Zool. Miscell. vol. i. 1814, p. 6, pi. i. ; Desmarest, Nouv. Diet. d'Hist. 

 Nat. vol. X. 1817, p. 112; Blyth, Jom-n. As. Soc. Beng. vol. xvi. 1847, p. 874; Horsfield, Cat. 

 Mamm. E. Ind. Co.'s Mus. 1851, p. 152. 



Macroxus (Palmista) palmarum, Gray, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. vol. xx. 1867, p. 279. 



Macroxus (PalmistaJ penicillatus, Gray, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. vol. xx. 1867, p. 279. 



This species is smaller and paler than >S'. tristriatus, Waterhouse. The pale 

 lines extend more on to the neck and head than do the corresponding lines of 

 S. tristriatus, and, unhke that species, the head, and the scrotal and anal regions, are 

 not red, neither is the under surface of the tail of that colour which distinguishes 

 >S'. tristriatus. The latter has only three well-defined, yellow, dorsal lines, whereas 

 in S. palmarum there may be said to be five ; but, as pointed out by Waterhouse, 

 the outer white line on each side of the body is joined on the lower side by so pale 

 a colour that it is not very evident as a line, but there is no white on the flanks 

 of S. tristriatus, nor tendency to form white lines on the flanks, which are 

 always grizzled like the thighs, the most external Kne being black. The differences 

 manifested by the skulls are referred to under the allied form. 



S. palmarum measures from 6*50 to 7 inches in length of body, from muzzle to 

 vent, and the tail from 5*50 to 6 inches. 



Leach first described this species as S. penicillatus, but afterwards, in the same 

 volume, regarded it as identical with S. palmarum, or as a variety of that species, the 

 chief character being the pencilling of the tail ; but as no squirrel with a tufted tail 

 has hitherto been discovered in India, and as it is highly improbable that such a 

 species has been overlooked, the likelihood is that it was a specimen changing its 

 fur. The figure given by Leach represents a squirrel agreeing more with ^S'. palma- 

 rum as defined by Waterhouse than with S. tristriatus. Elyth also^ remarks that 

 among very many continental examples of S. tristriatus which he had seen, he had 

 never observed one with a terminal tuft to its tail. 



This species occurs in Bengal, and ranges north-west to the Punjab and south- 

 wards to Central India ; but it is not represented in Ceylon, and its place in Southern 

 India is taken by S. tristriatus. Lesson. 



SciURTJS TRISTRIATUS, Watcrliouse. 



Funamitdus indicus, Lesson, 111. Zool. 1831, pi. xliii. 



Sciurus tristriatus, Waterhouse, Charlesworth^s Mag. Nat. Hist. 1837, p. 496; Proc. Zool. Soc. 



1839, p. 118; Blyth, Journ. As. Soc. Beng. vol. xvi. 1847, pp. 874 and 1001; ibid. vol. xviii. 



1849, p. 601; iUd. vol. xx. 1851, p. 166; vol. xxi. 1852, p. 350; Cat. Mamm. As. Soc. Beng. 



Mus. 1863, p. 106; Jerdon, Mamm. Ind. 1867, p. 171; Kelaart, Fauna Zeylanica, 185^, 



p. 51. 

 Sciurus penicillatus, Gray, Hand- List Mamm. B. M. 1843, p. 141. 



^ Journ. As. Soc. Beng. vol. xvi. 1847, p. 874. 



