172 



MAMMALS OF AMERICA 



The Douglas, and the Fremont Red Squirrels 

 are western types which differ in coloration, 

 but only slightly in habits. Mr. Merritt Cary, 

 of the U. S. Biological Survey says : " Like the 

 common Northern Red Squirrel, which it 

 greatly resembles in all respects except color, the 

 Fremont Squirrel feeds chiefly upon pine and 

 spruce cones, which are hoarded in large caches 

 at the bases of trees, beneath logs, and among 

 rocks. I have never found it living in a hollow 

 tree, although it may do so occasionally. The 

 nests of pine or spruce needles and fine strips 

 of bark are usually constructed in the fork of a 

 branch well out from the main trunk, at from 

 twenty to forty feet above the ground, and in 

 the densest forest. I have found the nests occu- 

 pied by the Squirrels in both summer and winter. 

 This Squirrel is not at all shy, and may be 

 coaxed to within a few feet by making a non- 



descript, ' screaping ' noise. One seen in Au- 

 gust was laboriously ascending a tree, carrying 

 a large cantaloupe rind, which had been left 

 by a camper. In some localities it is called 

 the little Gray Squirrel, which is, of course, a 

 misnomer." 



The Red Squirrel has many enemies, and of 

 these the most deadly are the hawk, the owl, 

 and the Weasel. The Weasel is the most relent- 

 less of all, and by his sense of smell pursues the 

 Squirrel through the tree tops. The Squirrel 

 is much fleeter, but for some reason not known, 

 he seemingly goes crazy when he discovers the 

 Weasel on his trail, and rushes pellmell among 

 the tree tops, up and down, crossing and recross- 

 ing his trail, until at last, hiding among the 

 branches or taking to a cavity, he awaits the 

 coming of the Weasel, which means nothing less 

 than sure death. 



FOX SQUIRREL 



Sciurus niger Linnaeus 



General Description. — Largest of the North .Xmer- 

 ican arboreal Squirrels. Head large, blunt, rounded ; 

 ears of moderate height, rounded ; body large, fairly 

 heavy; tail about one-half total length, broad and 

 bushy ; legs short ; pelage harsh ; color varying from 

 glossy black to clay color mingled with black. 



Dental Formula. — Incisors, 



I — I 

 I— r 



Canines, 



Premolars, 



1 — I 



Molars, ^~^= 

 i—i 



Pelage. — Adults : Sexes similar. Seasonal varia- 

 tion not especially noticeable. General color above. 

 from glossy black to clay color mingled with black ; 

 clay color below ; tail mixed black and clay color ; nose 

 and ears always white; top of head usually black. 

 Yoln'g: Colors not so strong as in adults. 



Measurements. — Total length, 25.5 inches ; tail 

 vertebrae, 12 inches; hind foot, 3.5 inches. 



Range. — Virginia to Florida, east to .\lleghenies, and 

 Gulf Coast to Louisiana. 



Food. — Nuts and seeds of trees with some buds, 

 fruit and berries. 



Remarks. — The Fox Squirrels may be known from 

 the other North .American Tree Squirrels by their large 

 size, heavier bodies and distinctive coloration, .'\bout 

 five species and subspecies are known in the United 

 States. 



REi..\TF.n Spfxies 



Fox Squirrel, or Black Fox Squirrel. — Sciurus 

 iiigcr nigcr Linnaeus. Typical animal as described 

 above. Florida and the southeastern States. 



Yellow-bellied Fox Squirrel. — Sciurus niycr rufi- 

 zwtlcr (Geofifroy). Smaller than the Black Fox Squir- 

 rel ; ears and nose never white. Greater part of the 

 Mississippi Valley from northern Louisiana to southern 

 Wisconsin. 



White-bellied Fox Squirrel. — Sciurus t.iycr iici/U'c- 

 lus (Gray). Belly white or whitish. Central Virginia 

 and West \'irginia to Pennsylvania. 



Texas Fox Squirrel. — Sciurus nigcr tcxianus (Bach- 

 man). Smaller and paler than the Western Fox 

 Squirrel. Coast region of Louisiana and Mississippi. 



The Fox Squirrels are big strapping fellows, 

 the largest members of their large family in 

 America. They are also the laziest. They can 

 defend themselves more easily from some of 

 their enemies such as the hawks, and for this 

 reason may have lost some of their agility. 



They prefer also to lie abed of a morning. 



snuggling contentedly between their mossy or 

 leafy coverlets, rather than hustle abroad with 

 some of their noisier red cousins. This, how- 

 ever, is not because they fear the cold, but froiu 

 sheer laziness. Dr. Hornaday says : " In cap- 

 tivity the northern Fox .Squirrel seems to be 

 more hardy in winter than the Gray Squirrel. 



