254 U. 8. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS ZOOLOGY GENERAL REPORT. 



pale rusty yellow. Similar differences in size occurred, although an average diminution in size 

 was discernible in the specimens from more southern localities. I have, therefore, had no 

 other alternative than to combine all in one, and to seek for a name among the earlier descrip 

 tions of authors. This I found in the journal of Peter Custis, an emigrant from Accomac 

 county, Virginia, to Louisiana, published in Barton's Philadelphia Medical and Surgical 

 Journal, as quoted above. The description fortunately is sufficiently explicit to admit of no 

 misunderstanding. The author was familiar with the fox squirrel of the eastern shore of 

 Virginia, (S. cinereus, but by him called S. vulpinus,') and to it he compared his Louisiana 

 species, giving the same size for both, but referring to the deeper red color and not bearded 

 ears. 1 A numerous series of specimens from Bed river, sent by Mr. James Fairey, and almost 

 from Mr. Custis' locality, furnishes the most satisfactory proof of the identity of this species 

 with the fox squirrels of the Missouri river. These were called, successively, S. macroura, 

 macroureus, magnicaudatus, and sayi. More northern ones were described as S. rubicaudatus 

 while the smaller size, from near New Orleans, and resembling those from Red river, were called 

 S. subauratus. 



It is quite possible that the squirrel I described, from Devil's river, Texas, in 1855, under 

 the name of Sciurus limitis, may be a very small variety of the present species, although its 

 geographical distribution is in its favor, as well as much smaller size, and different color. 

 Further collections, from western Texas, will be necessary to settle the question. 



The Sciurus leivisii, of Hamilton Smith, described from a specimen in Peale's museum, 

 brought by Lewis & Clark, in some respects resembles the present species, especially in the 

 ochraceous belly and feet. The tail is described as thick, cylindrical, and bushy, and ringed 

 with seven black and six white bands, with a white tip. This ringed character may have been 

 produced by a twisting of the tail. I do not, however, understand the absence of any red in 

 the tail. Unless, however, the specimen in Peale's museum belonged to this species, I cannot 

 refer it to any known North American species ; and, at the same time, it is quite improbable 

 that a squirrel of these characteristics could exist at the present day without having been 

 detected by some of the numerous recent explorations in the west. 



I have very little doubt that the Sciurus auduboni, of Bachman, is the dusky variety of the 

 S. ludovicianus, as a skin from Red river, sent by Mr. Fairey, in company with a large number 

 of fox squirrels, agrees exactly with his description. The S. occidentalis, though originally 

 described as from the Pacific coast, has recently (Aud. & Bach. N. Am. Quad. Ill, 354) been 

 given as a synonym of S. auduboni by its author, and, consequently, of S. ludovicianus. 



Mr. Robert Kennicott, of West Northfield, Illinois, one of the most observing and accurate 

 naturalists in the west, after a careful study of many fox squirrels from and in different locali 

 ties, both living and dead, has come to the conclusion that the S. sayi, subauratus, and rubicau 

 datus, of Audubon and Bachman, are all of the same species, and has described them as such 

 in his paper on the Rodents of Illinois, in the Agricultural Report of the Patent Office for 

 1856, illustrated by an excellent figure taken from life. 



The Sciurus rufiventer, of Desmarest, if really from New Orleans, in all probability belongs 

 to this same species, although it has been referred to the S. faliginosus of Bachman. The 

 dimensions, as stated, (6^ inches,) are, in all probability, an error of the original description. 



1 The description is as follows : "Size of S. vufyinus. Body and upper parts of tail, dark gray ; belly, inside of legs, and 

 thighs, and under part of tail, reddish brown ; ears not bearded ; tail longer than the body, and very broad." Bed river 

 of Louisiana. 



