Notes on Sciuriis Fossor. 119 



This squirrel varies in abundance in the same locaHty in succeed- 

 ing years without apparent cause. Some hunters think it is subject 

 to epidemics, which is probable. Last March I picked up one dead 

 that on skinning- showed no wound. It was much congested, so 

 that the veins all over the body were very distinct. It was in fair 

 condition ior the season, so its disease was not of long standing 



The seasonable variation of this species consists of the addition 

 in winter of an ochraceous *or cinnamon-rufous wash over the upper 

 surface, principally over the shoulders, but often extending from the 

 neck to the rump. In some winter specimens this wash is quite 

 strong, but in others it is hardly appreciable. This difference in 

 color is only in the next to the last annulation of the hairs of tlie 

 upper surface. These annulations in summer are nearly pure white 

 but in winter they become more or less rufous colored. The last, 

 blackish annulation or tip, being short, does not much obscure the 

 color of the lighter band below. 



A comparison of specimens from San Bernardino and San Diego 

 counties with specimens from near San Francisco in the collection 

 of the Academy of Sciences shows the southern squirrel to be in- 

 termediate between the two forms found near San Francisco. I 

 hardly know whether to refer the southern animal to Sciurus fossor 

 or to Mr. Bryant's new sub-species nigripes. It may even need 

 separation sub-specifically from both, as it is certainly a little differ- 

 ent in color from either. The southern animal is quite constant in 

 color except the presence of the ochraceous wash on the dorsal sur- 

 face of some in winter. 



I have not been able to consult Audubon and Bachman's original 

 description oi Sciiirus lepormjis, which has been discredited by most 

 later authors, but from Baird's reference to it I am inclined to think 

 that it was founded on a northern California individual having an 

 unsually strong wash of ochraceous or chestnut on the upper sur- 

 face, about the color that I should expect to see on winter speci- 

 mens from, say, Humboldt. It is probable that leporinns will 

 ultimately be restored and fossor of Peale be placed in the list ot 

 synonyms. 



