286 EODENTIA. 



parachute is yellow near the back, but orange-red towards its external margin. 

 The yellow, which is brilliant, spreads forwards over the shoulders, so that the dark 

 colour of the upper surface of the neck is much narrowed. This is a well-marked 

 feature of this species, and is always more or less present. On the limbs and 

 margin of the membrane, the colour is rich orange-red, and this colour is prolonged 

 along the sides of the neck, below the yellow of that region. The tail is orange- 

 red, of variable intensity, tipped more or less broadly with black. The under parts 

 are pale orange-fawn, or pale orange-red. The chin is blackish. In some speci- 

 mens the hind feet are black, and the dark colour of the back extends more on 

 to the sides than in others. 



In a male referred by Hodgson to this species, there is no approach to the 

 formation of a dorsal line, and the dark dorsal area and the head have the sub- 

 apical bands to the hairs pure white, as in examples of P. oral, but the characteristic 

 shoulder yellow is present. In this specimen there is no black on the chin, but its 

 absence may also be remarked even in the most characteristic examples of the species. 



In a very young individual, the dorsal line is absent, and the head and neck 

 are concolorous with the body, also the upper surface of the parachute, which 

 differs from the back in the absence of the black tips to the hairs. The tail at 

 its base is concolorous with the back, but the remainder of it approaches to the 

 yellow colour of the shoulder and collar, and the tip is nearly blackish-chestnut. 

 The whole of the under surface of the body is pale yellowish-red. The lower 

 half of the ear is yellowish, and its terminal half, dark chestnut-brown, approaching 

 to black. 



Inches. 

 The body o£ the adult measures . . . , . . . .16 



The tail •••.......... 22 



The skulls of P. magnificus and P. nobilis are identical, and they are closely 

 allied to P. oral, the chief distinction between them and the latter being their 

 shorter muzzles and the more elevated character of the interorbital depression. 



The range of this species is not well ascertained ; but it has been found in 

 Nepal, Sikkim, and Assam. 



Pteromys albiventer. Gray. 



Tteromys alhwenter, Gray and Hardwicke, 111. In. Zool. 1834, vol. ii. No. 18 plate; Proe. Zool. 



Soc. Lond. 1836, p. 88; Charlesworth's Mag. Nat. Hist, new ser. vol. i. 1837 ; Hand- List 



Maram. B. M. 1843, pp. 134, 584; Wagner, Beitr. zur Saugeth. Faun, von Kaschmir 



(Hugel), 1842, p. 573; Schreber, Saugeth. Sujopl. vol. iii. 1843, p. 222; Blyth, Journ. As. Soc. 



Beng. 1847, vol. xvi. pt. ii. p. 865 ; Horsfield, Cat. Mamm. E. Ind. Co.'s Mus. 1851, p. 162. 

 PterowAjs inornatus, Is. Geoff. St.-Hil. Descrip. Mamm. Voyage, Jacquemont, 1842-43, p. 62, plate 



iv.; Wagner, Beitr. zur Saugeth. Faun, von Kaschmir (Hugel), 1842, p. 573; Schinz, Syn. 



Mamm. vol. ii. 1845, p. 527; Blyth, Journ. As. Soc. Beng. 1859, vol. xxviii. pp. 277,' 287; 



Cat. Mamm. As. Soc. Mus. 1863, p. 95; Jerdon, Mamm. Ind. 1867, p. 176. 

 Fteromys petaurista, Mtiller und Schlegel, Verhandl. 1839-44, p. 106. 

 Fteromys magnijicus, Sclater, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1872, p. 635, pi. 1. 



