SCIURUS BICOLOR. 
The thumb itself is not lengthened or separated from the toes, but consists of a 
thick fleshy tubercle, supporting the nail. The claws on the other toes of the fore 
feet, and all the claws on the hind feet, are acute and greatly compressed, as in 
other Squirrels. 
The hairy covering on the upper parts is coarse. At the base the separate 
hairs are supplied with down, but they are rigid, and somewhat bristly at the 
extremity, and are not regularly applied to the skin ; on the breast and abdomen 
the fur has a softer texture, and the arms and hands are bordered with a beau- 
tiful series of hairs, which generally have a deep fulvous tint, and extend laterally 
from the shoulders towards the ears. The separation between the bristly hairs of 
the upper parts and the softer fur underneath, is strongly indicated by a line, arising 
from an abrupt termination of the rough hairs on the sides of the body. From the 
outer margin of the fore-arm, near the foot, arise several long, stiff, straggling bristles. 
The general enumeration of Indian Sciuri, which was given in the Vllth 
Number of these Researches, concludes with several species, which, by their size, 
exceed all the Squirrels that have as yet been discovered in other parts of the world. 
They have received the names of Sciurus bicolor, Sciurus Leschenaultii, Sciurus 
Hypoleucos, Sciurus Macrourus, and Sciurus maximus; and while several of these 
appear to be mere varieties, the distinction of the others may be considered as con- 
firmed by later investigations. I shall not at present add any remarks to those 
formerly given, on the probable identity of the Sciurus Macrourus and the Sciurus 
maximus ; but I shall detail the result of my observations on the Sciurus Leschen- 
aultii and the Sciurus Hypoleucos. The examinations which I have again instituted, 
and a more rigorous comparison of the numerous specimens from Java, contained 
in the Honourable East India Company's Museum, together with the specimens 
from Siam, and the descriptions of Hamilton and Sparrmann ; with the opinion of 
my much esteemed friend M. Temminck, have inclined me to consider the Sciurus 
Hypoleucos, of the Vllth Number of tins Work, a mere variety of the Sciurus 
Leschenaultii ; and I take, therefore, this early opportunity to detail the result of 
my later investigations. The varieties of the Sciurus Leschenaultii and of the 
Sciurus bicolor are, in many instances, so strongly marked, that they appear to be 
distinct species, until the gradual passage of one to the other becomes apparent, by 
the examination of a large series of specimens. The name of albiceps was first 
given to the former of these species ; but M. Desmarest observing that it could not 
be applied with propriety to all the varieties contained in the Museum at Paris, 
