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Show 932 MR. OLDFIELD THOMAS ON MAMMALS [Dec. ±4, 25. SCIURUS MUTABILIS, Bet. ff. Nyika Plateau, June 1896. b, c. Kombe Forest, Masuku Bange, July 1896. d-g. Lakangola, Zomba, 23-28/2/97. 26. FUNISCIURUS LUCIFER, Thos. (Elate LIV.) Xerus (Puraxerus) lucifer, above, p. 430. ff, 6. Kombe Forest, Masuku Bange, 7000 ft., July 1896. ff. Type (B.M. No. 97.10. 1.80). c. Chidewah Mt., two days N.W. of Mt. Waller, 6000 ft., June 1896. This splendid Squirrel is at the same time the most beautiful and the most distinct of all the mammalian discoveries made during the recent explorations in Nyasaland, and I have therefore thought it worthy of a figure. So distinct is it that it is difficult to say to what species it is most nearly allied. On the whole its nearest relation may be considered F.pyrrhopus, in spite of the extent to which its brilliant rufous coloration recalls F.pulllutus. As it has been already sufficiently described, no further account of it is here necessary, but an explanation of the generic name adopted is required. W h e n using in the original description the term Xerus, subgenus Puraxerus, I was contented to accept provisionally Dr. Forsyth Major's arrangement of the family *, wherein he assigned about half of the species commonly termed "Sciurus" to Xerus and half to Sciurus, dividing each of these groups into several subgenera. This general arrangement being founded on such a careful and highly competent examination of the skulls and teeth, it was evident that it could not be ignored, and that systematic workers would have to consider how best they could utilize Dr. Major's invaluable contribution to the subject. Frevious classifications had only sorted the Squirrels according to geographical distribution, size, or colour-markings, so that there was the greatest need of such a scientific revision as that now referred to. But further consideration has convinced me that it would be most inconvenient, even if the world in general could be brought to do so, to accept the arrangement exactly in its present form, with Tumlas a mere subgenus of Sciurus, with the peculiar, spiny-furred typical Xerl placed in the same genus as such very different forms as the little soft-furred " X." Isabella, and with many other difficulties which would present themselves to every worker on the subject. This being the case, I would now venture to suggest that all the subgenera (with the exception of " Atlantoxerus ") in Dr. Major's scheme should be recognized for ordinary systematic purposes as full genera, especially as all of them have long been considered as perfectly natural groups, and have been arranged as such in the revisions of Trouessart aud other authors. 1 P.Z.S. 1893, p. 189. |