SQUIRRELS OF MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA 89 



nary examples with black backs, and is equally intense in specimens 

 from Encarnacion, Hidalgo, which have the well-marked black dorsal 

 band. Two specimens from Villar, San Luis Potosi, in worn summer 

 pelage, differ in being uniform gray on back, scarcely darker along 

 median line, but they agree with the Pinal de Amoles specimens in 

 the rich, buffy underparts. The buff on feet accompanies and varies 

 in intensity with same color on underparts. The only melanistic 

 specimen in the series is from Pinal de Amoles, Qiieretaro. 



JMeastn'etncizts. — Average of five adults from type locality : total 

 length 542.8; tail vertebras 269; hind foot 72.7. 



Cranial characters. — Premolars \. Skull (pi. I, fig. 3) propor- 

 tionately broader and heavier than that oihidoviciamis ; rostrum shorter 

 and heavier ; interorbital breadth greater ; top of braincase broader and 

 less convex on interparietal outline ; occiput decidedly broader and 

 more depressed ; audital bullae appi^eciably larger and more drawn out 

 anteriorly and posteriorly. Three adult skulls from the type locality 

 average as follows: basilar length 54.6; palatal length 28.5; interor- 

 bital breadth 20.3 ; zygomatic breadth 36.3 ; length of upper molar 

 series 11. 



General notes. — Peters described Sciurus octilatus in 1864 from a 

 specimen collected by Deppe in eastern Mexico. Thomas redescribed 

 the species in 1S90 as 6". niger fnelanonotus., from specimens taken at 

 Las Vigas, Vera Cruz. Specimens from Las Vigas agree perfectly 

 with the original description of S. oculatits^ and since this locality is on 

 the route followed by Deppe it may be considered the type locality. 



Habits. — This species properly belongs to the pine forests of the 

 Transition and Boreal zones from 7500-12,000 feet, but at Villar, San 

 Luis Potosi, near the northern border of its range, we found it in the 

 oaks of the Upper and Lower Austral zones (5500-6000 feet) where 

 it was feeding on acorns and wild figs in the canyon bottoms. Ordi- 

 narily its main food supply is obtained from various species of pines. 



Specimens examined. — Forty-six : from Mt. Orizaba, Puebla ; Cofre 

 de Perote and Las Vigas, Vera Cruz ; Real del Monte, Tulancingo 

 and Encarnacion, Hidalgo; Pinal de Amoles, Qvieretaro ; Villar, San 

 Luis Potosi (6000 feet). 



SCIURUS OCULATUS TOLUC^ Nelson. Toluca Squirrel. 



Schtrus octilatus tolucce Nelson, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, xii, pp. 148- 

 149, June 3, 1898. 

 Type locality. — North slope of the Volcano of Toluca, State of 

 Mexico, Mexico. Type no. 55927 U. S. National Museum, Bio- 

 logical Survey collection. 



