62 



VERTEBRATES : MAMMALS. 



Fig. 57- 



The Rocky Mountain Flying Squirrel, P. alpimis, 

 Rich., has the lateral membrane with the border 

 straight, and the tail longer than the body exclusive 

 of the head. 



The Columbia River Flying Squirrel, P. orcgoncnsis, 

 Bach., is seven inches long to the tail, which is over six 

 inches, the color yellowish brown above, and dull white 

 beneath. 



The Taguan, P. petaurista, Linn., of the Indian Archi- 

 pelago, is nearly as large as a cat, the male a lively mar- 

 roon above and red beneath ; the female brown above. 



The Genus Clieiromys 

 Aye - Ayes may be men- 

 tioned here, but its true place 

 is doubtful. Some naturalists 

 regard this curious genus as 

 belonging to the Ouadrumana, 

 to which it seems related in 

 the structure of its head, and 

 in the opposable thumb of the 

 hind feet. The teeth in gen- 

 eral position are essentially 

 those of a rodent, but the lower 



Aye-Aye, C. madagascarensis, Cuv. i nc i sors are muc h COmprCSSCd 



and extended from before backwards. Only one species 

 of this monkey-like rodent is known. It inhabits Mada- 

 gascar, is of the size of a hare, of a brown color, and 

 burrows in the ground. 



The Genus Tamias Striped Squirrels - - is charac- 

 terized by ample cheek pouches, tail shorter than the 

 body and not bushy, three to five dark dorsal stripes, 

 and four permanent upper molars. This genus comprises 

 only a few species, two of which are found in Europe and 

 Asia, and the remaining four or five in North America. 



The Chipping, Striped, or Ground Squirrel, or Chip- 



