10 SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF MAMMALIA. 



ej^es, its light contour, its activity, its deep so£t fur, and 

 long bushy tail, have contributed to render it a general 

 favourite. They are furnished with proper clavicles, or 

 collar-bones, and possess the use of the fore-arm and 

 paws in a high degree of perfection ; the toes are four, 

 with the rudiment of a thumb, on the anterior feet ; five 

 on the hind feet; the claws are sharp and hooked. Mo- 



5 5 



lars, . Ears often tufted with a pencil of long 



4 — 4 

 hairs. In feeding, these animals sit up on the haunches, 

 and hold their food (nuts, &c.) not between the fingers 

 of their joined fore paws, but between the rudimentary 

 thumbs, while they work at it with their teeth. 



The Northern Gray and Black Squirrel 



{Sciiiriis Icxicotis). 



It is to Dr. Bachman, D.D., President of the Lit. 

 and Phil. Soc, Charlestown, S. Carolina, that we are 

 indebted for clearing up the maze of confusion in which 

 the squirrels of America have been involved. 



It appears from this author that several black squirrels 

 exist, totally distinct from each other, and that of these 

 some are mere varieties. Of the genuine species he no- 

 tices the large Louisiana black squirrel (S. Aiidubonu), 

 the black squirrel {Sciurus 7iiger, Linn., not Catesby), 

 and the dusky squirrel (S. nigrescens). There is a black 

 variety of the fox squirrel {S. capistratns), and a black 

 variety of the Northern gray squirrel, the species figured. 

 The gray squirrels are numerous, and perplexing to the 

 naturalist. The Northern gray squirrel has been, for 

 instance, confounded with the Carolina gray squirrel, 

 from which it is distinct. The Northern gray and black 

 squirrel is a very common species, and exceedingly 

 active and sprightly. It is spread through the Northern 

 and Middle states : it is abundant in New York and in 

 the mountainous parts of Pennsylvania, and extends as 

 far north as Hudson's Bay : southwards, it occurs in 

 Virginia, and perhaps still farther south. 



