8/8 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [July. 



also to Sc. Raffiesii and Sc. rufoniyer (Rafflesii, var. ?), may be safely 

 regarded as certainly erroneous. 



The Soeiety's present collection of Sciurida comprises 88 specimens, of 

 35 (provisionally assumed) species, for the most part — with very few excep- 

 tions — select and in excellent condition. Of these, 23 belong to the sub- 

 group of Flying Squirrels, 3 (inclusive of the living Marmot) to that of 

 Marmots, and the remainder to the very extensive genus Sciui'us,. In the 

 " Catalogue of the Mammalia in the Museum of the Asiatic Society," pub- 

 lished in J. A. S. X, 660 et seq. (August, 1841), not a single specimen is 

 enumerated ; but there were 6 in the Museum when I took charge of it, in 

 the following month, of which one only {Sciuropterus jimbriatus) now 

 remains, the rest {Sciuropterus alboniyer, Sciurus purpureus, Sc. vittatus, 

 Sc. lokriah ?, and Sc. McClellandii,) having since been replaced by better 

 specimens. 



Our present desiderata, among the Flying Squirrels, are those of Ceylon, 

 Sciuropterus fuscocapillus of S. India, Sc. Horsfieldii, Sc. genibarbis, and 

 Pteromys punctatus, of the Malayan peninsula, with the species generally of 

 the Archipelago, and series of the large Pteromydes of the Himalaya — parti- 

 cularly of its N. W. ranges — that might aid in determining the specific 

 types. Of the true Sciuri, a series of Sc. macrourus of Travancore and 

 Ceylon, illustrative of the variation to which this race is subject ; and the 

 small striped species generally of S. India and Ceylon, including even the 

 common Sc. palmarum. Should such a species as Sc. dschinschicus or 

 albovittatus occur, (dull-greyish or fulvescent, with a white or yellowish- 

 white stripe on each side, and the size a little exceeding that of an English 

 Squirrel,) specimens would be particularly acceptable ; and fine specimens 

 are desirable of all the small or middle-sized species inhabiting Arracan and 

 the Tenasserim provinces ; and the species generally of the Archipelago, 

 with the curious Sc. laticaudatus of the Malayan peninsula, Indeed, of those 

 we already have, more specimens of Sc. niyrovittatus of the last named 

 locality, and of Sc. trilineatus of the Nilgherries. Also Sc, lokriah and Sc. 

 lokroides from Nepal proper : any Himalayan species found to the westward 

 of Nepal ; and the species before referred to, as stated by Mr. Gray to inhabit 

 Bootan. Of the Himalayan and Tibetan Marmots, good specimens are 

 extremely acceptable : and of all the Flying Squirrels, without exception, 

 good specimens are generally acceptable for transmission to the Hon'ble 

 Company's Museum in London, and to various other scientific Institutions. 

 Addendum to first Report. 



In p. 864 ante, I took occasion to point out that my Rimator malacoptilus, 

 p. 155 ante (February), had been redescribed by Mr. G. R. Gray from the 

 same specimen as Caulodromus Gracei, in the An. May. N. H. for May of the 

 present year : it now again appears, as a new genus and species, by the name 

 Merva Jerdonii, Hodgson, in the ' Calcutta Journal of Natural History' for 

 April, but published in the middle of August : the paper, however, bearing 

 date of December 1846. But the latter is of no recognised importance; and 

 my description of this bird had indeed been awaiting an opportunity for 

 publication since 1845, when Mr. Grace was in Calcutta. I certainly did my 

 utmost to prevent any doubles emplois with Mr. Grace's specimens ; having 

 sat up till late at night in labelling his whole collection, as that gentleman 

 will remember : and as he well knew that I had pointed out the Rimator as 

 new, and with his permission, named and took a description of it for publica- 

 tion, Mr. Gray's synonyme might at least have been spared. Whether my 

 published description of this curious little bird is sufficiently perspicuous and 

 intelligible, must be left for others to judge : but it is greatly to be regretted 

 that these synonymes should thus unnecessarily accumulate. 



