68 QUADRUPEDS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



Descriplion. The under part of the head and front of the fore 

 Hmbs are reddish-brown, like the back ; the insides of the thighs 

 are colored like the belly, and on each side, or on the flanks, 

 there is a blackish line ; the tail is of a reddish-brown color above ; 

 mystachial bristles long and black. It resembles the common 

 Red Squirrel, or Sciurus vulgaris, of Europe, more than any spe- 

 cies which we have. The range of the species is much farther 

 to the north than either of the preceding. They are subject to 

 a disease of the incisive teeth, in the progress of which they grow 

 to an excessive length. All the Rodentia appear also subject to 

 the same misfortune. 



5. Sciurus Striatus. Klein. The Striped Squirrel. 



Sciurus Carolinensis, Brisson, Reg. An. 155, No. 9. 



Sciurus Lysteri, Ray. 



Sciurus striatus, Harlan, Fauna Am., p. 183. 



The Ground Squirrel, Godman, N:it. Hist., ii. p. 142. 



Sciurus (Taniias) Lysteri, Richardson, Fauna Bor. Am., p. 181. 



Figure ; Godman, ii. p. 143, f. 3. Richardson, p. 181. 



Specific characters. Striped with five parallel and longitudinal 

 black lines ; the two lateral ones separated from each other by a 

 white line ; white beneath ; eyelids bordered with white, which 

 runs back a little towards the ear, in which there is a touch of 

 black running in the same direction. 



Description. The general color inclines to reddish rather than 

 brown ; the lines are obscurely bordered with red ; the white 

 beneath extends down the fore legs behind ; the sides of the body 

 are paler, and inclining to yellowish ; tail gray, the proportion of 

 black greatest, and with a tendency to form a lateral stripe, red 

 at base, sub-ancipital ; ears are proportionally high and rounded. 



Observations. This common little animal lives entirely under 

 ground or in hollow logs. It very rarely ascends trees in search 



