SPERMOPHILUS. 137 
8. Spermophilus spilosomus. 
Spermophilus spilosoma, Bennett, P. Z. S. 1833, p. 40 (descr. orig.)’; Baird, Mamm.N. Am. p. 321’; 
Rep. U.S. Mex. Bound. Surv. ii. Mamm. p. 39°; Allen, Mon. N.-Am. Rodent. p. 864°. 
Hab. Nortu America, New Mexico and Texas*.—Mexico, Chihuahua city (Potts, U.S. 
Nat. Mus.*), Janos (Kennerly, ibid.?). 
This appears to be a species of very limited range, and it is extremely rare in collec- 
tions. Originally described from a Californian specimen |, it has been obtained at only 
a few places in New Mexico, Texas, Chihuahua, and Sonora; and the United-States 
National Museum, so rich in large series of native animals, could only boast of six 
specimens when Mr. Allen published his monograph. Dr. Kennerly, however, says 
that in Sonora “this species was quite common on the prairies around Janos. It lived 
sometimes among the rocks, but more often had its bed in piles of dirt heaped around 
the base of some bush. These piles were elevated’ several feet above the surrounding 
ground, and were entered by three, four, or more apertures near the summit. ‘The 
animals were exceedingly shy, and a specimen was procured with difficulty ” 3. 
4, Spermophilus mexicanus. 
Sciurus mexicanus, Erxleben, Syst. Reg. An. p. 428 (1777, part.) '. 
Citilus mexicanus, Lichtenstein, Darst. neu. Sdugeth. pl. xxxi. (1827-34, descr. orig.)’. 
Spermophilus mexicanus, Baird, Mamm. N. Am. p. 319°; Rep. U.S. Mex. Bound. Surv. ii. Mamm. 
p. 89‘; Dugés, La Nat. i. p. 188°; Allen, Mon. N.-Am. Rodent. p. 868°. 
Tlalmototli, Hernandez, De Quadr. Nov. Hisp. fol. 9, cap. xxvi. 
Urion?, Huron *, of Mexicans. 
Hab. Norvu America, Texas ®—Mextico (Verreaur, Mus. Brit.), Toluca (Deppe, Mus. 
Berol.2), Pesqueria Grande, Matamoras (Couch, Berlandier, U.S. Nat. Mus.*), 
Guadalajara, Guanajuato (Dugés’), Tlalpam (Geddes, Mus. Brit.). 
Erxleben’s Sciurus mexicanus, being primarily founded on the 7/almototli of Hernandez, 
must have been partially intended to represent this species; but the description has 
evidently been confused with that of some other animal, probably of a Tamias. No 
recognizable description can be found prior to that of Lichtenstein, which was founded 
on a specimen obtained by Deppe in Central Mexico. The species appears to be very 
characteristic of the tableland of that country, ranging from Texas to the southern 
and western States of the Mexican Republic. 
Of the habits of the Mexican Spermophile the following brief account is given by 
Mr. Clark, of the United-States Boundary Survey :—“ This species was found in greatest 
numbers in the valley of the lower Rio Grande. It livesin the ground; and its burrow 
is always made with reference to the protection afforded by a thorny bush or cactus 
BIOL. CENT.-AMER., Mamm. Vol. 1, August 1880. T 
