DENTITION OF FERRUGINOUS BANGSRING.
In the genus Tupaia (or Cladobates) from which the present family takes its name, there are four small incisor teeth separated from each other in the upper jaw; and six incisors, the middle four of which are close together, long, and much inclined forwards in the lower jaw. The upper canines are at some distance from the hindmost incisors, the lower ones close to them (see [figure]). Behind the canines there are on each side in both jaws three premolars, which increase in size backwards. These are followed by three true molars. The bony orbit is a complete ring, and the zygomatic arch is also complete, but perforated by an elongated aperture. The ears are of moderate size, and rounded; the eyes large and prominent; and the tail long, and well clothed with hair throughout its whole length; in fact in most species it is a bushy organ like that of many Squirrels.
In the Tana (Tupaia tana) the arrangement of the hair on the tail in two rows, something after the fashion of the barbs of a feather on the shaft, which is more or less recognisable throughout this genus, is especially remarkable; and as the hair is very long, the tail is rendered particularly bushy. This animal is one of the larger species, the body measuring from eight to nine inches in length, and its colour is rather variable, although usually exhibiting various shades of reddish-brown, becoming darker or blackish on the hinder part of the back, where, moreover, the greater part of the hairs are of uniform tint and not grizzled. The colour of the tail appears to be especially liable to vary—thus, according to Dr. Günther, in the ordinary form of the species the tail is black above, with the basal half of each hair rusty brown, and dark brown below; in another variety, described by Wagner as a distinct species under the name of T. speciosa, the tail is brownish-red above, and bright rusty-red below; whilst in the beautiful form from which our illustration is taken the whole organ is of a reddish golden-yellow colour. This is Dr. Günther’s variety, chrysura (golden tail).
TANA—GOLDEN-TAILED VARIETY. (From the Proceedings of the Zoological Society.)
The Tana is an inhabitant of the forests of Sumatra and Borneo. According to Sir Stamford Raffles, the animal is known to the country people of Sumatra under the name of Tupai tana, and he was informed that it was always found on or near the ground. A nearly allied but much smaller species (T. splendidula of Dr. Gray) occurs with it in the last-named island; and another larger one (T. nicobarica) is found in the Nicobar Islands.
THE FERRUGINOUS BANGSRING.[254]
This species, the Tupai Press of the Malays of Sumatra, and the Kekkes of the Sundanese in Java, is more widely distributed than the preceding, being found not only in the two islands above mentioned, but also in Borneo, Penang, and Singapore. It was first described by Sir Stamford Raffles. It is one of the larger species, the head and body measuring about eight inches, and the tail being fully of equal length. The colour of its fur is almost entirely a rusty red, becoming darker, however, on the tail and the hinder part of the back, where the hairs are more or less grizzled with white. The tail is not so bushy as that of the Tana. The aperture under the orbits is of an elongated oval form.