870 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [Julv, 



A. Sc. bicolor, Spamnan, apiul Horsfield, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1839, p. 151 j 

 also apud Schinz, and Cantor, J. A. S. XV, 2-16 : Sc. affinis, Raffles (the pale 

 variety, which is also Sc. aureiventris, Is. Geoffroy) ; Sc. giganteus, McClel- 

 land, described in P. Z. S. loc. cit. ; Sc. macrouroides, Hodgson, enumerated 

 (not described) as new in J. A. S. X, 915 (1841). That Sparrman's brief 

 Latin diagnosis applies very well to the present race or species is undeniable j 

 but as it was founded on a Javanese specimen, and there would appear to be 

 some doubt whether the race under consideration inhabits Java, Mr. Gray 

 refers the name bicolor to another and well known Javanese race, placing it 

 as a synonyme of Sc. javensis, Schreber ; while for the animal here treated 

 of, he adopts the name macrouroides, Hodgson, which yields precedence to 

 rjiganteus of McClelland, as applied to the same dark variety of the race. 

 Regarding, however, (with Dr. Cantor,) the pale variety common in the Malayan 

 peninsula as, without doubt, specifically the same as the ordinary dark 

 variety, the rejection of the name bicolor for this race would render it neces- 

 sary to adopt the name affinis, Raffles, for the normally coloured or dark 

 variety as well as for the pale variety, and notwithstanding that Raffles alludes 

 to the former by the name Sc. maximus, under which Schreber comprehends 

 what are here provisionally regarded as different species of these great 

 Squirrels. But it remains to ascertain, upon sufficient authority, whether it 

 be true that the present race does not inhabit Java. Schinz, who describes 

 it correctly, gives Java, Sumatra, Borneo, and Ceylon, as habitats — the last 

 named locality doubtless following from his mal-identifi cation of Sc. macrou- 

 rus of Ceylon with the race under review. In the Malayan peninsula it 

 abounds (and there alone it would seem that the pale variety occurs) ; also, 

 proceeding northward, in Tenasserim, Arracan, Sylhet, Munneepore, and 

 Assam, as well as in the S. E. Himalaya, as especially about Darjeeling. In 

 specimens from all this range of territory, the dark variety exhibits no 

 variation worth mentioning, (certainly no local variation,) except that the ears 

 of Himalayan and Assamese specimens are pretty densely tufted (though less 

 so than in Sc. purpureas), while this is not the case with those from Arracan, 

 Tenasserim, and the Malayan peninsula. In adults, the upper-parts seem to 

 be always deep black in the new pelage, becoming bleached and oftentimes 

 very rusty as the fur gets old, especially upon the back towards the croup ; 

 and this faded fur may be commonly seen to be succeeded by deep black fur 

 in specimens that were changing their coat. The young would seem to be 

 always thus rusty above, and when small are very pale about the croup. The 

 under-parts are more or less deep-coloured in different individuals. A black 

 band on the cheek, descending backward from before the eye, is of very 

 regular occurrence ; and above this, the yellowish-white colour is more or 

 less continued forward ; the sides of the upper lip are sometimes black, some- 

 times white, or with black and white hairs intermixed. The following speci- 

 mens have been retained for the Museum. One from Darjeeling, presented 

 by the late Mr. Webb of that place ; one from Arracan (with some pale 

 hairs intermixed along the tail), presented alive by Capt. J. R. Abbott; one 

 from Amherst (remarkably fine), presented by E. O'Ryley, Esq. ; another, 

 from Mergui, presented by the Rev. J. Barbe ; and one from Malacca, by the 

 Rev. F. J. Lindstedt. Also two specimens of the pale variety, from Malacca, 

 presented by Mr. Frith and Mr. E. Lindstedt. 



4. Sc. javensis, Schreber, var. — Mr. Gray, in his catalogue of the mam- 

 malia in the British Museum, still admits three Javanese races of these large 

 Squirrels, as distinct : adopting the name hypoleucos, Horsfield, for one of 



about the middle, and whitish at the end.— This description does not exactly tally with 

 the Ceylon specimen ; but the species is the same, beyond all question, and the general 

 similarity of the two specimens is considerable. 



