67 



Summary description of two new species of Flying Squirrel. By 

 B. H. Hodgson, Esq. B. C. S. With a colored Plate. 



The Editors of the Journal in publishing this brief article, and the plate which ac- 

 companies it, which is an exact facsimile of the beautiful drawing made by Mr. 

 Hodgson's Native artist, deem it an act of justice to that gentleman, to them- 

 selves as Editors and Officers of the Asiatic Society, and to their contributors, 

 to explain how it has happened, that though the drawing has been in their posses- 

 sion since July 1842, it only now appears. It was sent to them from Katmandoo 

 by Mr. Hodgson under the above date, with a request that the Society's Zoological 

 Curator would add such remarks as he might think proper. 



The paper was handed to Mr. Blyth, who also then saw the drawing, and as soon 

 as the first impressions could be coloured, they were placed by the Editors in his 

 hands. The colouring of the whole of the plates, (a very slow process in India,) 

 was finished in August 1843. 



The Editors in May 1844, had the paper returned to them with the following 

 announcement from Mr. Blyth : — 



" The truth is, both of them are species already described ; viz. the Pteromys nobilis 

 and the P. caniceps of Gray, and it would not be creditable to the Journal that they 

 should be published under Mr. Hodgson's new names." 



They do not feel competent to decide on a question of priority of discovery nor of 

 identity of species should any arise, and are herein only anxious to prove their 

 earnest wish to do justice, both by liberal care and by early publication, to the 

 labours of the correspondents of the Asiatic Society, and supporters of the Journal. 

 The extract pointed out to the Editors by Mr. Blyth will be found in the note.* 



RODENTIA. 

 Genus Sciuropterus. 



1. Sp. new. S. Chrysotrix, mihi. General structure and size of Mag- 

 nificus. Above intense ochreous chesnut, mixed with black and divided 

 down the spine by a golden yellow line, and margined externally by 



* Extract from the Annals and Magazine of Natural History for December 1842, 



p. 262 and 263. 



Sciuropterus nobilis. — Bright chestnut-brown, with yellow tips to some of the hairs, 

 pale rufous beneath ; the top of the head, the shoulders, and a narrow streak down 

 the middle of the upper part of the back pale fulvous ; parachute large. 



Hab. — India, Dargellan, Mr. Pearson, Mus. Ind. Comp. 



Sciuropterus caniceps — Blackish brown, varied with red bay ; hairs long, dark 

 blackish, with red bay tips ; out-side of the legs redder, beneath reddish yellow ; 

 head iron -gray with longer black interspersed hairs ; throat white ; chin black ; 

 small lunate spot on the upper edge red, and roundish spot near the base of the ears 

 bright-red ; tail flattish, black with some redddish tipped hairs, fewer near the 

 end. Body and head, nine inches ; tail, eight and a half. 



Hu/;.— India, Dargellan, Mr. Pearson, Mus. Ind. Comp. 



