256 



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



SCIURUS LIMITIS, Baird. 



Texas Fox Squirrel. 



Sciurus limitis, BAIRD, Pr. A. N. Sc. Phila. VII, April, 1855, 331. (Devil's river, Texas.) 



Length about 10 inches. Hind foot 1 .66 inches. Size less than S. carolinensis. Upper molars four. Hairs short and close 

 pressed. Ears long, coated with very short hairs. Feet small ; soles naked and dark brown. Above, mixed cinnamon. Tail, 

 cinnamon beneath ; above and on the sides like the back, with three annalations of black. 



A full description of this squirrel will be found in the report on the zoology of the United 

 States and Mexican Boundary Survey. 



Notwithstanding the marked difference in color and size "between this species and all the 

 other American fox squirrels, I am far from feeling sure now that it is anything but a local 

 variety of the common western fox squirrel. Had I deferred characterizing the species until the 

 present time I should hardly have ventured upon a new name with a more ample knowledge of 

 the North American squirrels than I possessed two years ago. I only retain it now pro 

 visionally, until its real character can be better tested by additional specimens. The locality 

 is considerably 'further west than that of any fox squirrels that have fallen under my notice. 



List of specimens. 



SCIURUS CAROLINENSIS, Gm. 



Gray Squirrel and Black Squirrel. 



SMALL SOUTHERN VARIETY. 



Sciurus carolinensis, GMELIN, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 143. 



BACHMAN, Pr. Zool. Soc. Lond. VI, Aug. 1838, 94. IB. Charlesw. Mag. Ill, July, 1839, 330. 



IB. Silliman's Am. J. Sc. XXXVII, 1839, 304. 

 AUD. & BACH. N. Am. Quad. I, 1849, 55; pi. vii. 

 .'Sciurus cinereus, DESM. Mamm. II, 1822, 332. 



GRIFF. Cuv. V, 1727, 254. 



Lesser Gray Squirrel, PENNANT, Synopsis, 1771, 283 IB. Hist. Quad. 1781. 

 Hudson Squirrel, var. a, Carolina, PENNANT, Arctic Zool. I, 1784, 116. 

 Ecurcuil gris de la Carolina, ST. HILAIRE & Cuv. Hist. Mamm. III. Two plates and text 



LARGER NORTHERN VARIETY. 



Sciurua cinereus, SCHREBER, Saugt. IV, 1792, 766; pi. ccxiii. (Original and accurate description; the figure from 



Buffon.) 



HARLAN, Fauna Americana, 1825, 173. 

 FISCHER, Synopsis, 1829, 352. 

 THOMPSON, N. H. Vermont, 1842, 45. 



