Elphinstone's Squirrel. 



Sciurus Elphinstonei, Sykes, Proc. Comm. Sci. and Corr. Zool. Soc. 1830-1, p. 103. 



This very beautiful animal is nearly allied to the Sciurus maximus, Auct., and about the 

 same size. The general arrangement of its colours is the same ; but the chesnut of the body 

 and reddish white of the tail and belly, according to Colonel Sykes, are invariable, and do not 

 present those differences which exist in the Malabar Squirrel. It is called by the Mahrattas 

 Shekroo, from its cries resembling that word; and is dedicated to a very distinguished person, 

 and a zealous promoter of scientific research, the Honourable Mountstuart Elphinstone. 



In the compilation of the annexed plate, the author is much indebted to the liberality of 

 Colonel Sykes for the use of an original drawing of the Squirrel, taken from life; and also a 

 drawing of an extraordinarily large Wuhr ( Ficus Indica ) observed at the village of Mhou, Under 

 Mawul, Poona Collect or ate, Western Ghats ; (which tree has been introduced into the back- 

 ground of the picture, in a reduced form) and the branches extend, according to the statement 

 of Colonel Sykes, two hundred feet in length, and one hundred and fifty feet in breadth, and 

 is capable of affording a vertical shade to twenty thousand men at one time ! The encamp- 

 ment represented is that of Colonel Sykes, with a party of one hundred and four men, which 

 appears lost amidst the stems of the tree. The Squirrel is found only in the lofty and dense 

 woods of the Western Ghats of the Deccan. The flesh is whitish and very delicate eating. 



The ears and the whole upper surface of the body, half-way down the tail, outside of the 

 hind legs, and half-way down the fore legs outside, of an uniform rich reddish chesnut. The 

 whole of the under surface of the body from the chin to the vent, the inside of the limbs, and 

 the lower part of the fore legs, the crown of the head, the cheeks, and the lower half of the tail 

 are of a fine reddish white ; the two colours being separated by a defined line, and not merging 

 into each other. The feet are of a light red ; the forehead and down to the nose reddish brown, 

 with white hairs intermixed. The irides are nut-brown. The ears are tufted. 



Length of head and body, sixteen and a half inches ; tail, sixteen inches. 



