302 EODENTIA. 



The type of this species is in the India Museum, London. It is quite distinct 

 from P. geniharbis, the typical example of which is ia the same collection. Tlie 

 latter is distinguished from the former and indeed from all the smaU flying squirrels 

 hy its numerous and strong cheek-bristles, whereas there is no indication whatever 

 that those hairs ever existed in P. lepidus. Miiller and Schlegel were under the 

 impression that the cheek-bristles of P. genibarbis were a character of youth, and 

 that P. lepidus was an animal of the same species in which these hairs had fallen out, 

 but P. lepidus is a smaller species than P. genibarbis. Moreover, there are certain 

 flying squirrels in which the cheek-bristles are entirely absent, and others in which 

 they are only developed to a Hmited extent, and some of the flying squirrels recently 

 described by Giinther exemplify these diiferences wliich have also attracted his 

 attention. 



This is one of the smallest of the Southern Asiatic flying squirrels. The upper 

 surface is pale yellowish-brown. The tail is markedly distichous, pale yellowish- 

 grey at its base, the remainder being pale brown and the under surface somewhat 

 rufous. The upper surface of the parachute is dark brown, the fore feet being pale 

 yellowish-brown, and the hind feet darker. The under parts are thickly clad with 

 rather woolly hair, white, but with a faint yellowish tinge. The bases of the hairs 

 on the sides of the belly and on the under surface of the parachute are slaty grey, 

 and on the outer half of the membrane they are almost wholly brown, tipped with 

 yeUowish-white, but the dark colour is the prevalent tint. The moustache is long 

 and black. 



The sides of the face and neck are yellowish-white. 



Length of body 3-90 ; tail 3-50. 



There are four examj)les of tliis species in the Leyden Museum ; it has hitherto 

 been found only in Java. 



Pteeomts volans, Linnseus. 



Ecureuil volant de Siberie, Brisson, Reg. An. 1756, p. 159. 



Folatouche, Buiion, Hist. Nat. vol. x. 1763, p. 95. 



The Sailing Sriuirrel, Pennant, Quad. 1792, vol. ii. p. 151 (in part). 



Sciurus volans, Linn. Syst. Nat. lath ed. 17G6, vol. i. p. 38; Pallas, Nov. Sp. Quad. Glirium, 1778, 

 p. 355; Zoograph. vol. i. (ed. 1831), p. !90; Boddaert, Elench Animal, 1785, p. 120; Schreber^ 

 Saugeth. vol. iv. 1793, p. 813, Tab. 223; Blumenbacb, Abbeld. 1810, p. 71; Fischer, Syn. 

 Mamm. 1829, p. 364; Gray, List Mamm. B. M. 1843, p. 136; Schinz, Syn. Mamm. vol. ii. 

 1845, p. 53; Middendorff, Saugeth. Reise in Sib. 1851, p. 78; Schrenck, Reisen. Amur Land, 

 1859, p. 116; Radde., Reisen. in Sud. Ost. Siber. Saugeth. 1862, p. 131. 



Pteromys russicus, Tiedemann, Zool. 1808, vol. i. p. 451. 



Ptefomijs sibericm, Desmarest, Mamm. 1820, p. 342. 



Pteromys volans, Fischer, Syn. Mamm. 1829, p. 365. 



Pteromys vulgaris, Wagner, Schreber, Saugeth. Suppl. 1843, vol. iii. p. 228. 



Sciuroptera volans, Blyth, Journ. As. Soc. vol. xxviii. 1859, p. 278. 



^ Tlus northern form is quite as variable as the common squirrel with which 

 it IS associated. It is pale greyish-white; the under parts white. Ears clad 



