RODENTIA. MURID^. 67 



black, variety is the most common ; the mottled varieties I have 

 never met with. Some individuals which were tawny upon the 

 belly, and gray, I have repeatedly seen. The flesh is not so 

 sweet as that of the common gray variety ; it is usually red, and 

 not so white as in the former species. The body is about four- 

 teen inches in length, the tail sixteen ; ears quite hairy inside and 

 out, and not so high as in the former species. 



3. Sciurus niger. Lin. The Black Squirrel. 



Black Squirrel, Pennant, Arct. Zool., i. 138. 



Sciurus niger, Harlan, Fauna Am., p. 177. Richardson, Fauna Bor. 



Am., p. 191. 

 The Black Squirrel, Godman, Nat. Hist., ii. p. 133. 

 Figure ; Ibid., p. 138, f. 3. 



Specific characters. Color jet black, with a fine, short, glossy 

 pelage, with but a small quantity of intermixed gray ; on the 

 belly there is a prevalence of reddish-brown ; in the summer the 

 black is not so pure as in winter. 



Observations. The Black Squirrel rarely varies much in its 

 color. It may be distinguished from the black varieties of the 

 other species, by the pureness of the black, which in the mere 

 varieties of the other species partakes largely of the brown and 

 reddish hues, and also by the softness and fineness of the hair. 

 It is far less common in the western part of Massachusetts than 

 the Gray Squirrel, and, indeed, it is very rare to meet with one. 



4. Sciurus Hudsonius. Gmel. The Common Red Squirrel. 



Chickaree. 



Sciurus Hudsonius, Harlan, Fauna Am., p. 185. Richardson, Fauna 



Bor. Am., p. 187. 

 The Hudson's Bay Squirrel, Godman, Nat. Hist., ii. p. 138. 

 Figure ; Ibid., p. 133, f. 1. 



Specific characters. Superior parts of the body reddish brown, 

 varying in intensity, and shaded with black ; inferior, white, tar- 

 nished more or less with reddish yellow ; longitudinal hne between 

 the white and red somewhat darker than the back ; ears tufted. 



