128 MADAGASCAR SQUIRREL. 



the tail is also black : the head, under part of the 

 neck, insides of the hmbs and belly, are yellowish 

 ferruginous, somewhat paler on the breast : the 

 iris of the eye is of a pale yellow : the fore-feet 

 have four toes with crooked claws, and a very 

 small thumb or fifth toe, with a small rounded 

 nail : the hind-feet have five toes, with strong 

 crooked claws on all : the tail is longer than the 

 body, and appears equal to it in size when fully 

 expanded. This animal, according to Sonnerat, 

 is easily tamed, and is called about the coasts of 

 Malabar of the name of the Great IVood Rat, 



MADAGASCAR SQUIRREL* 



Sciurus Madagascariensis. S. niger, subfus, naso auriculisqne aU 

 bido-flaxiescentibus, cauda longissima angustata. 



Black Squirrel, with the nose, ears, and under parts, yellowish- 

 white, and very long tapering tail. 



L'Ecureuil de Madagascar. Buff. SuppL 7. p. 356. pL 63. 



This which, from Mr. Cepede's description, 

 given in the 7th supplemental volume of Buffon, 

 should seem equal in size to the preceding, is said 

 to measure seventeen inches to the tail, which is 

 still longer, and of a dissimilar appearance to that 

 of other squirrels ; and rather resembling that of 

 a cat, but feathering towards each side, and ter- 

 minating in a very taper point. The whole up- 

 per parts and tail are of a deep black, and the 

 nose, ears, and whole under parts, yellowish white: 



