THE APLODONTIA. 



been a stumbling-block and a matter of doubt, in 

 o-reat measure attributable to the fact that but a 



o 



single species of the genus is known, and very 

 few specimens have hitherto been obtained. A 

 fine male specimen has recently been set up in 

 the British Museum collection, that I caught near 

 my camp on the prairie. 



In many particulars the Aplodontia very nearly 

 resembles the Spermophiles, particularly the 

 prairie-dog (Cynomys Ludovicciana), but differs, 

 as in the true squirrels, in the rootless molars and 

 absence of post- orbital processes. In this respect 

 it is allied to the beaver. It is quite impossible 

 to assign it a well-defined and settled position, 

 until a greater number of specimens are pro- 

 cured, from which more minute and careful exa- 

 mination of the bony and internal anatomy can 

 be made. At present, however, it would appear 

 to connect the beavers with the squirrels, through 

 the Spermophiles. 



The name Lewis and Clark gave this animal, 

 Sewellel, is evidently a corruption of an Indian 

 word. The Chinook Indians, once a powerful 

 tribe, live near the mouth of the Columbia ; and 

 from them, in all probability, Lewis and Clark 

 obtained the name, and first heard of the animal. 

 But the Chinook name for the Aplodontia is Og- 



