MAMMALS OF VENEZUELA— ROBINSON AND LYON. 145 
10 mm. in width, the same color as upper surface; that is, hazel or 
orang-e-rufous. This is followed by a narrow band almost black in 
color. The central portion of the under surface of the tail is a mixture 
of blackish and dull orang-e-bufl', the latter color predominating-. 
Ski//l. — Premolars }, braincase somewhat elongated; highest point 
of skull just posterior to line of postorbital processes. Audital bullte 
rather small. The skulls show little individual variation, and three 
adults average as follows: Maxinuun length, 50.4; basal length, 48.3; 
maxinuun width, 29.8; interorbital constriction, 16.3; length of nasals, 
median line, 15.7; Icng'th of upper molar series, 9. 
Scit/nf-s (/riseogena very closel}' resembles Sciurus aidtuDhs hojfmaiod 
Peters. The general appearance of the dorsal surface of the body and 
limits is more olivaceous, due to the more buft'y color of the sub- 
terminal bands of the hairs. The under parts are nmch brighter in 
color, being orange-rufous instead of tawny-ochraceous or dull fer- 
ruginous as in lioffriiannL The coloration of the tail in grheogeiia is 
much redder than that of hojfniannl and lacks the conspicuous admix- 
ture of black seen in the Central American squirrel, the terminal 
reddish bands being much wider and the subterminal Idack ])ands 
narrower than the corresponding ones found in JioJfuKiJU)!. The 
skulls resemble one another very closely and present no differences 
except that the premolars in (jrlseogena are larger than they are in 
hoJfmannL It apparentl}^ needs no comparison with the ))right 
colored, white-bellied squirrels of the variahilis type that have been 
collected in the Santa Marta region of Colombia. 
These squirrels were abundant at San Julian and were also found at 
La Guaira and at Macuto. In all '21 specimens were secured. Kt 
San Julian the majorit}^ were taken in the coffee plantations where 
they resorted to feed on the sweet pulp in the seed pods of the various 
species of Guamas, one of the fruit trees planted to shade the coffee. 
Others were shot as they fed on aguacates, on mangoes, and on bana- 
nas. The natives stated that they do nmch damage to green corn. 
At San Julian in the latter part of July and first of August at least 
a dozen Avere seen daily. They were rutting at this season and the 
males were pursuing the females. On July 24 five males were shot 
in a few minutes, all after the same female. At these times they bark, 
but the sound is low and guttural. There was not heard any chirring 
sound nor the shrill sneezing, characteristic of our red squirrel. They 
resemble this species in the readiness with which the}^ descend to the 
ground and take refuge in holes in the rocks instead of hiding among 
the branches. 
Pi-oc. N. M. vol. xxiv— 01 10 
