JAN., 1912. MAMMALS, VENEZUELA AND COLOMBIA OSGOOD. 47 



Maracaibo. At the latter place a fine adult female had been killed 

 recently by Don Alberto Tinedo and we were able to obtain its skull. 

 My only sight of one of the living animals was a brief glimpse at about 

 9 o'clock at night while on the watch in a hammock strung between 

 bamboos at the edge of a dry quebrada. My attention was attracted 

 by its heavy tread and the sharp crack of breaking sticks, and after a 

 few moments of straining my eyes in the dim moonlight I saw the ani- 

 mal clearly outlined for a moment as it passed between two trees. It 

 was moving deliberately and scarcely twenty yards away, but its posi- 

 tion was such that I was unable to shoot. 

 Local name Danta. 



Sciurus versicolor Thomas. Varicolored Squirrel. 



Five specimens, El Guayabal, 10 miles north of San Jose de Cucuta, 

 Colombia, March 12-17, 1911. 



Reference of squirrels from this region to S. versicolor is necessarily 

 provisional. They differ from typical versicolor in somewhat increased 

 black on the end of the tail and perhaps, therefore, should be regarded 

 as intergrades between versicolor and zulice. 



The great variability of the squirrels of this group often has been 

 remarked, and, while this is undeniably justified to a certain degree, it 

 seems probable that with exact knowledge of physiographic and cli- 

 matic conditions and good series of accurately labeled specimens, it 

 will be found that this variation is not so much fortuitous or individual 

 as it is local and environmental. 



Squirrels were fairly common in the rather open forest along the 

 quebradas a few miles west of El Guayabal. During our visit they 

 were marauding the crops of our host, Senor Nino, and several were 

 shot in the act of carrying away big yellow ears of corn. 



Sciurus versicolor zuliae Osgood. Zulia Squirrel. 



Five specimens, El Panorama, Rio Aurare (2), Shore of Lake Mara- 

 caibo opposite Maracaibo (i), Empalado Savannas (i), Encontrados 

 (i H. F. Raven.) 



Squirrels are sparingly distributed in the dry open woods on the 

 northeast side of Lake Maracaibo, extending eastward at least to the 

 wooded quebradas of the Empalado Savannas. At El Panorama, 

 during eight days constantly in the field, I saw but one, and on the 

 savannas for the same time, also one. On the immediate shore of 

 Lake Maracaibo likewise they are scarce. The single specimen ob- 



