MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. 223 



with these colors, varying in the proportion of each in almost every in- 

 dividual. The intensity of the black appears to increase with age. 



Dr. Emmons's *S. vulpinus seems to refer to large examples of this 

 species rather than to the true fox squirrel (S. cinereus Linn.). 



53. Sciurus hudsonius Pallas. Red Squirrel. Chicka- 

 ree. Abundant. 



The variations in color, in the hairiness of the soles, the presence or ab- 

 sence of ear-tufts, according to the season of the year, in this and other 

 species, have already been pointed out by Professor Baird.* The lateral 

 dusky stripe is perhaps the most variable feature in the present animal, in 

 many specimens it being quite absent, and in the greater portion but 

 faintly indicated, but it is not unfrequently one of the most conspicuous 

 features of coloration. In fall specimens, particularly around Springfield, 

 the black lateral line is generally conspicuous, being a well-defined, quite 

 broad black band. Specimens from Northern Maine f differ from the ma- 

 jority of Massachusetts specimens in possessing a relatively very much 

 shorter tail, somewhat in general color, the back being "rusty-yellow" 

 rather than ferruginous, and in the greater fulness and softness of the fur. 

 The black at the end of the tail is much broader and more conspicuous. 

 In several points these specimens thus approach .S. Richardsonii. Speci- 

 mens entirely black have been received from Mr. G. A. Boardman from 

 near Calais, Maine. In view of the wide range of variation presented by 

 S. hudsonius, the descriptions of some of its near allies, especially of S. Fre- 

 mont'd and S. Richardsunii of Townsend and Bachman, seem scarcely to 

 indicate more than slight local variations of one species. The specimens 

 of the latter thus far examined have been too few to establish any very 

 important differences between them and S. hudsonius, if such exist. 



Professor Baird in his admirable article on the Sciurincc, or typical 

 squirrels of the United States, was able, through the' very abundant ma- 

 terial at his disposal, to eliminate a very large proportion of the invalid 

 species that had from time to time crept into the works of preceding au- 

 thors, including many described by Bachman and other Americans as well 

 as by foreign naturalists. The variations pointed out by him as being de- 

 pendent upon season and locality are important discoveries, since such va- 

 riations are also of common occurrence among other groups. Two or three 

 species only, besides those above specified, of the twelve species of Sciu- 

 rus admitted in the work of this author seem at all questionable. These 



* N. Amer. Mam., pp. 244 and 270. 



t In the Mus. Comp. Zool., and C. J. Maynard's collection. 



