166 , SCIUEIB^. 



pencilled ears. They are peculiar to South-eastern Asia, including the 

 Archipelago as far as Borneo, attaining their maximum in India. Of these 

 Blyth, though retaining them as species, remarks in a foot note, Cat. 

 Mammal, p. 98, " It is difificult to conceive of the whole series as other 

 than permanent varieties of one species."* There are to two or three 

 nearly allied species or races inhabiting the peninsula of India, wherever 

 there are large and lofty forests, but the specific distinctions and the exact 

 geographic limits of each yet require much investigation. 



148. Sciurus malabaricus. 



ScHiNz. — S. maximus, apud Blyth, Cat. 307. — Horsfield, Cat. 209. — 

 Jungli gilheri, H. 



The Malabar Squirrel. 



Descr. — Ears, nape, back of neck, the back and sides of the body, bright 

 maroon chesnut ; the posterior part of the back, rump, and upper portion 

 of all the limbs, and the tail, black ; forehead and interocular regions 

 brownish ; muzzle and cheeks rufous ; neck, breast, and lower parts dingy- 

 yellow ; feet rufous in front, yellow internally ; ears small, rounded, very 

 hairy. 



Length, head and body 16 to 18 inches ; tail with the hair 20-21. 



This race inhabits the southern portions of Malabar, the Wynaad, slopes 

 of the Neelgherries, Travancore, &c., &c. 



149. Sciurus maximus. 



ScHREBER. — Elliot, Cat. 43. — Sc. No. 308, Blyth, Cat. (sine nomine). 

 — Kat berrdl, Bengal. — Kondeng of Coles. — Karrat. Hindi, — Rasu and 

 Ratuphar, at Monghyr. — Bet- udata, Tel. — Per-warsti of Gonds. 



The Central Indian Eed Squirrel. 



Descr. — Similar to the last, but there is never any black on the croup or 

 thighs, and less on the fore limbs ; the tail more or less black or deep 

 maroon above, usually with a pale yellowish tip ; the under parts are more 

 or less deeply colored. 



• Theoraticaaiy I quite agreo with Blyth, but practically wo must distinguish thorn as species, aa 

 indeed ho himself does ; and the same remai'k might be applied with moie or less reason to many 

 other groups of nnimalB. 



