RODENTIA SCIUR1NAE SCIURUS LUDOVICIAtfUS. 



253 



however, that the dusky squirrel from Louisiana is identical specifically with the fox-colored 

 ones from the same locality, and that the same name must be borne by both. 

 It will be seen from the table of measurements that the western fox squirrel follows the same 

 law as the other American species in the diminishing size as the locality is more southern. 

 This is most strikingly shown in the varying length of the hind foot. The table, however, can 

 only be considered as approximately accurate, owing to the fact that most of the measurements 

 were taken from dried skins. Next to the hind foot, the length of the tail to the end of the 

 vertebrae and of the hairs is the most reliable measurement of the skin ; the length of body 

 varies exceedingly with the amount of stretching or stuffing, while a skin long preserved in 

 alcohol may shrink far within its original dimensions. 



Measurements from alcoholic specimens. 



Measurements of skulls. 



This beautiful squirrel is generally known throughout the southwestern and western States 

 under the name of fox squirrel, a term derived from the pale rusty or fox-color of its under 

 parts and tail. There are, as already mentioned, two other species going by the same name : 

 one confined pretty much to the coast regions of the southern Atlantic and Gulf States ; the 

 other found chiefly in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. 



From the list of synonyms at the head of this article, it will be seen that I have thrown a 

 great many supposed species of American authors under one name, and I trust I shall not be 

 accused of any wanton action in so doing. With probably the largest collection of fox- colored 

 squirrels before me ever gathered together, and those from wide-spread localities, I have found 

 it entirely impossible to distinguish the differences referred to, especially as series from the 

 same locality exhibited every shade of color, from dark chestnut, through bt-ight brick red, to 



