526 West African Forms 0/ Heliosciurus rufobracliium. 



reddish of the forearms is almost imperceptible, that of the 

 tliighs is as a rule mnch reduced, the light chest and inguinal 

 hairs have more prominently dark bases, and the tailiis more 

 heavily black-ringed. 



Hah. Lower Niger. Specimens seen from Lao'os {Lowe), 

 For^ados, Degama and O-^uta (Ansor^e), and '^ Bird Rock/' 

 200 miles up the Niger (Lort Phillips). 



Type. Adult female. B.M. no. 44. 3. 30. 3. Purchased 

 of the dealer Warwick. 



This race is very like //. r. acticola, no doubt on account 

 of living under similar climatic conditions ; but differs 

 enough to have the island form subspecihcally separated 

 from it. The type was erroneously identified by me in 

 1909 with an Angolan member of the group, but tliere can 

 be no question that the present is its proper allocation. 



8. Heliosciurus riifohracliium ohfuscatus, subsp. n. 



General colour very dark, conspicuously darker than the 

 Nigerian isahellinus ; approximating to "mummy-brown" 

 above; under surface muddy-brown, the chest and inguinal 

 region little lightened. Fringes of forearms and inner sides 

 of legs deep ricli rufous. Hands and feet dark mixed brown 

 and dull ochraceous. Tail mixed black and ochraceous, the 

 former more dominant than usual. 



Length of type-skull 53 mm. 



Hah. Oban district of South-eastern Nigeria ; type from 

 Ekkonnanakku. Alt. 200'. Oue specimen from Rio del E-ey 

 {Sir H. H. Johnston). 



Type. Adult female. B.M. no. 9. 5. 8. 2. Original 

 number 4. CoUected 21st March, 1909, and presented 

 by P. A. Talbot, Esq. Thirteen specimens, all obtained by 

 Mr. Talbot, except that from the Rio del Rey. 



A very distinct saturated form, maikedly different from 

 tlie comparatively pale Nigerian isahellinus^ and much larger 

 than the small eniissus to the east of it. 



Of the subspecies of this group found further eastwards 

 and southwards, I am not yet in a positiou to work out 

 the detailed ranges of emissuSj Thos., henga, (Jabr., and 

 aubryi, M.-Edw., which occur in that order from north to 

 south through the Oameroons to the Gaboon. 



