1875.] inhabiting the Himalaya, Tibet, and the adjoining regions. 123 

 4. Aectomts aureus. 



A. aureus, W. Blanf., ante, p. 106. 



On a previous page I described this species very briefly. The following 

 is a fuller account, taken from four specimens, three brought by Dr. Stoliczka 

 and one by Captain Biddulph from the mountains west of Yarkand. 



General colour tawny to rich brownish yellow, the dorsal portion con- 

 spicuously tinged with black from all the hairs having black tips, but these 

 are far more conspicuous in some specimens than in others ; face grey to 

 blackish with a rufous tinge, covered with black and whitish hairs mixed, which 

 are about half an inch long on the forehead, the black hairs more prevalent 

 in some specimens, apparently males, than in others ; the middle of the fore- 

 head sometimes more fulvous. Just on the nose is a blackish brown patch, 

 and there is a narrow band of short black hairs mixed with white around 

 the lips : sides of the nose paler ; whiskers black. Hairs of the back 1\ to 

 11 inches long, dark slaty at the extreme base for about % inch, then yellow, 

 becoming deeper golden yellow towards the extremity, the ends black. In 

 the blackest specimens (? males) the posterior portion of the back wants 

 the black tips. Tail the same colour as the back, except the tip, which is 

 black ; the length of the black tip varies, but never exceeds about 2% inches 

 in the specimens before me, and in three out of the four it is only about an 

 inch : hairs of the tail about 2 inches long, brown at the base. Lower parts 

 rather browner, the hairs shorter and thinner, chocolate brown at the base, 

 without the short woolly under-fur, which is very thick on the back. Feet 

 above yellowish tawny like the sides. 

 Length taken on the dried skins : 



Nose to insertion of tail, 16'5 to 18'75 



Tail, without hairs at the end, 5 to 65 



Hairs at end of tail, 1*5 to 1*75 



Fore-foot (palma) to end of toe, without claws, 2'05 



Mid toe, without claw, measured below, 0*8 



Claw, measured above, . 0*6 



Hind foot (planta) to end of toe, without claws, 2 - 9 



Mid toe, without claw, 0'8 



Claw of do., measured above, 052 



This is a very much smaller animal than A. caudatus, and its tail ap- 

 pears shorter in proportion and with less black. The colour of the lower 

 parts is less rufous and the feet are tawny yellow, not ferruginous as in the 

 larger form. The fur of A. aureus too is softer. From A. Himalayanus 

 the present species is distinguished by its much longer fur, by being much 

 yellower in tint and less grey, and by its longer tail. It is also much smaller. 

 From A. Hemachalanus it may be recognised by its longer tail and richer 

 colouration. 



