1859.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. . 4L9 



Miiller's coloured figure of Sc. latica.uda.tus, find of the lower parts dull 

 white without any rufescent tinge. The two are probably affined species 

 rather than identical . 



In Sc. Berdmorei the skull is that of an ordinary Sciurus of the 

 ' Palmist' group, to which the species strictly appertains, as indeed is further 

 evidenced by the markings of its coat; it being the largest of the Palmists 

 with which I am acquainted ; and moreover the habits (as described by 

 Major Tickell) are just those of other Palmists. Neither in the form of 

 its ear-conch, nor in the attenuation of the maxillaries and reduced size of 

 its gnawing teeth, does it approximate the Rhinosciurus type ; and the 

 enamel of the tusks is of the usual dark brownish-orange colour. The fur, 

 however, is very like that of a Tupaia, but for the usual longitudinal 

 stripes that distinguish the Palmist Squirrels.* The specimen formerly 

 presented by the late Major Berdmore from Mergui was a fine male, of 

 a brighter colour than Major Tickell's female now sent, having in fact a 

 newer or less worn pelage ; but the species is obviously one and the same. 

 It has three dorsal black stripes from the shoulder to the croup, the lateral 

 bordered externally by a yellowish-white stripe, and there is another yellow- 

 ish-white stripe on each side below, separated and set off above and below 

 with blackish; lower parts white with a strong rufous tinge, and in the 

 Mergui specimen more especially this rufous is rather deep on the internal 

 border of the thighs and at the base of tail underneath ; the head is very 

 rufescent in both specimens ; and the tail in that from Mergui is deep 

 rufous underneath along its middle, with first a narrow and then a broad 

 longitudinal band, the latter set off with yellowish-white tips, which grizzle 

 also the upper surface of the tail. In the other specimen, which appears 

 to have been younger, in addition to having more worn and abraded fur, 

 the colouring of the tail is the same, but much duller. Length of head and 

 body about 8 in., with tail of the usual proportions : skull just 2 in. long. 



Halcyon leucocephalus, (L). ; H. gurial, Pearson. Variety, with 

 albescent cap, sufficiently so quite to explain the specifical name, if founded 

 upon a specimen thus coloured. 



Since this Report was drawn up, Major Tickell has favored the Society 

 with more elaborate descriptions of his specimens, which are awaiting 

 publication. We have also received from him a fine specimen of a fish from 

 Port Blair, the Synanceia brachio, C. V., of the Histoire des Poissons. 



E. Blyth. 



* { Palm Squirrel' is a misnomer ; these animals shewing no particular par- 

 tiality for palms, that ever I could perceive. 



