12/4 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [Dec, 



which I doubt is the true M. javanica), and much less broad at base ; the series of 

 medial and lateral caudal scales amounting to 30 or 31 : underneath the tail, a 

 succession of series of seven scales each may be counted diagonally across, in 

 the direction of the tip, from the second and third lateral of the two sides respec- 

 tively, to the eleventh and twelfth respectively from the base ; then successive 

 series of six scales each, as far as the seventeenth and eighteenth. All the scales 

 are much worn ; but allowing for this, the series of lateral caudal scales have evi- 

 dently been always much smaller than in the Javanese species, and their tips are 

 appressed in the specimen (to all appearance normally so), so that the lateral mar- 

 gin of the tail is nearly smooth, instead of being very prominently serrated as in the 

 other. The scales of the head, neck, and exterior of the fore-limbs are excessively 

 ground down in the specimen ; and those of the upper part of the tail have their 

 tips broken away, so that the triple row of them presents a series of hexagons to 

 the view, very unlike what is exhibited by equally worn specimens of the several 

 following species. The scales upon the exterior of the limbs are also considerably 

 more numerous in M. leptura, especially on the hind-limbs ; the claws of the fore 

 and hind feet are equally developed, the middle one especially being large and 

 powerful : and the auricle (in the stuffed specimen at least) is nearly obsolete. 

 Altogether, this species presents a marked approximation to the long- tailed Pango- 

 lins of Africa. Its habitat remains to be ascertained. 



M. javanica, Desm. Two specimens in the Society's museum, received long ago 

 from Java, differ equally from M. leptura and from the presumed Javanese speci- 

 men before adverted to ; while they agree well with the description of M. javanica 

 in the Diet. Class. The tails of both are unfortunately imperfect ; but at the base 

 of the tail underneath, a good character presents itself, which readily distinguishes 

 this species from every other I have to compare with it. The diagonal series of 

 sub-caudal scales, commencing from the base, comprise but six scales each, for the 

 first two series on the one side, and one only on the other, followed by a succession 

 of series of five scales each, for about the basal half of the tail, which is all that 

 is preserved. The anterior claws are extremely large, especially the middle one, 

 and even the next outer ; while the posterior claws are small : the auricle is well 

 developed : and the bristles at the base of each scale are more so than in either of 

 the other species. If full grown, too, which they are or nearly so, the size is much 

 inferior to that of either of the other species. The description in the Diet. Class. 

 gives the length as 1£ ft. exclusive of the tail, which measures 1 ft. 1 in. ; and this 

 is about the size of the Society's two specimens. 



M. leucura, nobis, n. s. This species is common in Arracan, and T am assured 

 that it also occurs in Sylhet, to the exclusion of M. pentadactyla. Seven or eight 

 specimens examined had, without exception, the terminal portion of the tail, vary- 

 ing from about one-third to half, of a glaucous-white colour, abruptly contrasting 

 with the rest. The auricle is distinct, equally developed with those of M. penta- 

 dactyla and M. javanica (apud nos) : the claws are of moderate size, and nearly as 



