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Show 52 MR. J. L. BONHOTE ON [Feb. 5, upper parts of the body, with stripes on the belly and legs. As soon as I reached the Belgian post of Mbeni I began questioning my host, who at once acknowledged the existence of this animal and promised to send me where I could shoot one. They stated that it frequented the deepest parts of the Forest, went usually in pairs, was dark iron-grey on the upper part of the body, and had brownish stripes on the belly and legs. I found the Bambuba natives dwelling alongside the dwarfs called it ' Okapi.' The Belgians state that the head is very long ' et tres effilee.' One man said that the muzzle was particularly 'effile'"-or drawn out. At first they excited me by declaring that there was a skin lying about which I could have ; eventually it was found that the skin had been cut up by the native soldiers to be made into waist-belts and bandoliers. Two of these fragments were found and given to me, and I shall send them home to you by first opportunity. AVhatever the animal may be to which these pieces belong, it is not any one of the known Zebras or wild Asses; the pieces of skin unfortunately exhibit chiefly the stripes of the belly and legs. These are very irregular with a chestnut border, and they look as though from above they emerged from a uniform dun or dark grey." 5. On a Second Collection of Mammals made by Mr. Th. H. Lyle in Siam. By J. L. B O N H O T E , B.A. [Received January 10, 1901.] This second consignment of Mammals from Mr. Th. H. Lyle has proved to be of exceptional interest, almost every specimen having added to our knowledge of the species to which it belongs. One new race of Sciurus macclellandi is now described, which, apart from being distinct in colour, differs in undergoing a seasonal change of pelage, a feature unknown among the other forms of that species. From a study of Funambulus berdmorei suggested by Mr. Lyle's specimens, that species also appears to have a seasonal change ; and it should be observed that the seasoned change observed in these two species must be carefully distinguished from the breeding-pelage of two other species, viz., Sc. caniceps and Sc. atrodorsalis. In these latter a distinctive and brighter pelage is assumed in mid-winter during the rutting-season by both sexes ; whereas iu F. berdmorei the brightest pelage, which is merely a more intense form of the duller dress, is assumed, as one would expect, during the summer months. A Bat, Eonycteris spelaia, is recorded for the first time from this region; and the specimens of Megaderma spasma are the first received in the Museum from Siam. Another specimen of Petaurista lylei showing the immature pelage, and a Mongoose (Herpestesexilis) identical with Capt. Flower's specimen recorded in his paper, also form part of the consignment. The collection is made in Mr. Lyle's usual careful style, each |
