RODENTIA SCIURINAE SPERMOPHILUS HARRISII. 



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not twice as wide as each adjacent black stripe. The whole rump and posterior half of the 

 thighs are of a dark chestnut brown, slightly mottled with yellowish and black, especially ante 

 riorly, where it runs into the colors of the dorsal region, already described. The sides below 

 the inferior black stripe, and under parts generally, are light brownish yellow, brightest on the 

 sides of the fore limbs and anterior half of the thighs. The top of the head is chestnut colored, 

 the sides are rusty yellow, with a lighter ring round the eye. 



The under surface of the tail is a bright chestnut, with a black border, margined externally 

 with brownish yellow. Ab'ove it is mixed, black and yellowish, the former preponderating. 



A second specimen of this species (1911) is considerably smaller, and probably immature. 

 The grizzled portion of the back is wider, the black stripes narrower and less conspicuous. 

 The chestnut of the top of the head and on the rump are scarcely appreciable. The ring round 

 the eye is much lighter. 



This species bears a closer resemblance to Spermophilus harrisii than to any other American 

 species, but is sufficiently distinct; the principal points of difference are mentioned in the article 

 on the latter species. In fact they belong to entirely different sections of the genus. 



It may be proper to state, that in number 1272 the head and body belong to two different 

 animals. 



List of specimens. 



SPERMOPHILUS HARRISII, And. & Bach. 



Harris' Squirrel. 



Spcrmophilut harrisii, AUD. & BACH. N. Am. Quad. Ill, 1854, 267; pi. cliv, fig. 1. 



Size rather less than that of Tamias striatus. Tail vertebrae about half the length of the body. Ears short, pointed. Sole* 

 hairy. Above, finely grizzled grayish, or whitish brown and black; under parts, and a stripe on each side, (without any black 

 or dusky border,) whitish. Tail with one black and one light line, within the marginal whitish, black in the centre; uniform 

 whitish beneath. Length, 5 inches; tail, with hairs, about 3. Hind foot, 1.45. 



This beautiful species of Spermophilus is about the size of the common ground squirrel, Tamias 

 striatus, or even less, being the smallest yet described from North America. The head is large 

 and moderately acute. The ears are low but prominent, and more acute than in S. 13-lineatun and 

 mexicanus. The claws are long, considerably curved, and sharp, as in the squirrels. The 

 thumb is provided with a stout nail, scarcely to be called a claw. The third claw is longest, 

 the fourth but little shorter ; the second reaching the middle of the third ; the fifth to the base 

 of the fourth. The three central claws of the hind foot are about equal, as are the first and, 

 40 L 



