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Show 1900.] MR. A. L. BUTLER ON A NEW SEROW. 675 Genus BASSARICYON. External form like that of Cercoleptes, but with non-prehensile tail. Nose grooved anteriorly. Mammae 2. Sole of feet naked. Premolars 4 ; molars 2; both tri-tubereulate in upper jaw; in lower jaw 2 molars with 4 tubercles. Vertebral formula : C. 7, D. 13, L. 7, S. 3, Ca. 15 + ? Nine ribs join the sternum. Clavicle entirely absent. In skull, palate much produced behind last molars, coronoid process of mandible long and backwardly booked, angular process slight. 2. On a new Serow from the Malay Peninsula. By A. L. B U T L E R , F.Z.S., Curator, Selangor State Museum. [Received June 19, 1900.] It has hitherto been supposed that the Serow which occurs in the Malay Peninsula is identical with Nemorhcedus sumatrensis (Shaw). No skin from this region, however, has ever been sent to Europe, and on examining two specimens recently obtained on the Larut Hills, Perak, I am convinced that they belong to a species as yet undescribed. From tbe following description it will be seen that the Malayan Serow differs conspicuously from Nemorhcedus sumatrensis in its jet-black legs, the limbs in that species being always tan or rufous. This uniformity of colouring on body and limbs alone gives the animal an entirely different appearance from tbe Burmese Serow. Nor does it agree in any way, as might perhaps have been expected, with Blyth's N. rubidus from Arakan. Blyth described the Arakan species (Cat. M a m m . Mus. As. Soc. 1863, p. 174), from a stuffed head, an adult skin and one of a kid, as being " of a red-brown colour with black dorsal list; the hair shorter thau of the others." The Malayan animal is mostly black, the under-colour on the back is greyish white ; the hair is not shorter than in N. sumatrensis. Description of a female specimen in the Perak Museum, shot by Sir Frank Swettenham on the Larut Hills, Perak, early in 1899 :- NEMORHiEDUS SWETTENHAMI, Sp. n. General colour black, the back strongly and the sides slightly grizzled with grey, the bases of the hairs being whitish. Along the lips whitish grey; the posterior portion of the upper lips, a patch on each side of the lower jaw and one on the throat rusty red. Ears black, grizzled with rusty at the base, and lined and edged with greyish-white hairs. Mane black, mixed with whitish hairs on the fore part of the neck and with reddish hairs towards the withers. Insides of the thighs rusty red. Bemainder of head, neck, chest, belly, and legs black. Tail black. |
