RODENTIA SCIURINAE SPERMOPHILUS TRIDECEM-LIXEATUS. 



317 



Ardomys hoodii, GRIFFITH'S, Cuvier, III, 1827, 186 ; plate (original figure.) IB. V, 1827, 247. 

 FISCHER, Synopsis, 1829, 544. 



WAGNER, in Schreber Saugt. IV ; pi. ccx, C. (no text.) 

 Ardomys (Spermophilus hoodii,) RICH. F. B. Am. I, 1829, 177 ; pi. xiv. 

 Spermophilus hoodii, F. Ctrv. Suppl. Buff. I, Mammif. 1831, 337. 



PRINCE MAX. Reise in das innere Nord-Amerika, I, 1839, 449. 

 WAGNER, Suppl. Schreb. Ill, 1843, 251. 



Sp CH. About the size of Sciurus hudsonius. Ears very short. Tail vertebra? about half the length of body, or a little 

 longer Claws long ; that of thumb rather diminutive. Above dark brown, with light stripes and lines of light spots alter 

 nating with each other, six of the former and five of thelatter generally very distinct. Tail with a brownish yellow margin 

 and tip, and within this a border of black. Length, 5 to 6 inches. Tail vertebras, 3.50 to 4 inches. Hind foot, 1.30 to 1.40. 



This species is in a measure intermediate between the form typified by S. ludovicianus and 

 that of S. beecheyi. The ears are short and reduced to a mere rim, as in S. franklinii, which, 

 indeed, it resembles in many other respects. The claws are very long ; that on the thumb 

 being very short, though decidedly claw-like, and not a mere nail. The soles are sparsely 

 covered with long hair. The tail varies in length, though generally about half the length of 

 the body, or a little more. 



The general color above is of a dark brown, sometimes nearly black, the lower parts of the 

 sides and under parts light yellowish brown. The upper parts are longitudinally and symmet 

 rically striped with continuous yellowish white lines and lines of spots, the number distinctly 

 traceable varying with the specimen. On each side of the vertebral line there are three well 

 defined lines, most distinct on the middle of the body, with indistinct traces of one or two below 

 these. The vertebral line itself is occupied by a row of spots, and all the spaces between the 

 continuous lines described are similarly traversed, although two on each side the median line 

 are all that are distinct. Anterior to the shoulders, the spots in each line generally become 

 confluent. The top of the head is occupied pretty uniformly by spots. In some specimens 

 there is a slight or obsolete interruption at intervals to the continuity of the stripes, caused by 

 the darker tips of the hairs. The tail is brownish yellow, with a broad subterminal band of 

 black, the hairs being each so marked. In some specimens the central portion of the tail has a 

 chestnut tinge, although the yellowish margin and tip, with the black line within this, are 

 usually distinctly visible. 



In comparing an extensive series of specimens of this species from various parts of the country, 

 those from Wisconsin are seen to differ quite materially from those further west, in a consider 

 ably larger size and darker color. The ground color between the stripes is of a very dark brown, 

 almost black, and the stripes are rather further apart. The under parts, too, are perhaps a 

 little more dusky. I do not, however, find any other characters of importance. The spots and 

 lines are not so large in proportion as in the lighter prairie specimens. 



Measurements of skulls. 



