Journal of the Federated Malay States museums - Sabrizain.org
Journal of the Federated Malay States museums - Sabrizain.org
Journal of the Federated Malay States museums - Sabrizain.org
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III. ON AN ABERRATION OF SCIURUS PREV0ST1<br />
FREVOSTI FROM SOUTH WESTERN PAHANG.<br />
By Herbert C. Robinson, C.M.Z.S.<br />
Three races <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> handsome Raffles squirrel are recognizable<br />
in <strong>the</strong> <strong>Malay</strong> Peninsula, two very distinct, and <strong>the</strong><br />
third somewhat indefinite both in range and characters.<br />
These are<br />
Sciurus prevostii prevostii, Desm.<br />
Desm. Mamiu. p. 335 (18221.<br />
Range. The Sou<strong>the</strong>rn portion ot <strong>the</strong> <strong>Malay</strong> Peninsula not<br />
north <strong>of</strong> a line drawn from <strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn border <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> territory<br />
<strong>of</strong> Malacca to Kuala Kurau on <strong>the</strong> Pahang River.<br />
This form is at once distinguishable by having <strong>the</strong> white<br />
side stripe continuous from ankle to ear over <strong>the</strong> shoulder.<br />
Sciurus prevostii wrayi, Kloss.<br />
Kloss, Joum. Fed. <strong>Malay</strong> <strong>States</strong> Mus. iv, p. 148 (,1911).<br />
Range. From <strong>the</strong> Siamese <strong>Malay</strong> State <strong>of</strong> Trang, through<br />
<strong>the</strong> districts <strong>of</strong> Selama and Temengoh in nor<strong>the</strong>rn Perak and<br />
across <strong>the</strong> main range <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Peninsula to <strong>the</strong> headwaters ot<br />
<strong>the</strong> Pahang and Tahan Rivers. Range northwards on <strong>the</strong><br />
east side <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Peninsula not yet determined.<br />
This form is separable from <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r two by having a<br />
wash <strong>of</strong> ochraceous fulvous on <strong>the</strong> shoulder, <strong>the</strong>reby breaking<br />
<strong>the</strong> continuity <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> white lateral stripe. In <strong>the</strong> next race<br />
this wash is almost as deep in colour as <strong>the</strong> feet.<br />
Sciurus prevostii humei, Bonhote.<br />
Bonhote, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. (7) vii, p. 170 (1901).<br />
Range. Central and Sou<strong>the</strong>rn Perak to <strong>the</strong> south <strong>of</strong><br />
Selangor.<br />
In this form <strong>the</strong> ochraceous chestnut <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> shoulder is<br />
broadly in contact with <strong>the</strong> black <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> back.<br />
Of <strong>the</strong> first race, Sc. p. prevostii, <strong>the</strong> <strong>Federated</strong> <strong>Malay</strong>-<br />
<strong>States</strong> Museums, possess a series <strong>of</strong> skins from Nyalas,<br />
Malacca, which are practically topotypes <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> species and<br />
call for no special remark. They have <strong>the</strong> hands and feet<br />
chestnut, <strong>the</strong> extremities <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> fingers and toes sometimes<br />
ra<strong>the</strong>r paler, tending to orange buff, while in one case <strong>the</strong> feet<br />
near <strong>the</strong> ankle are clad with speckled black and grey hairs<br />
mingled with <strong>the</strong> chestnut, though this colouring is not symmetrical.