326 U. S, P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS ZOOLOGY GENERAL REPORT. 



condition as to admit of a satisfactory description. The claws are more sciurine in character, 

 the anterior being much more curved than in the Spermophilus richardsonii, and more nearly 

 equal to the hinder ones. The thumb is rudimentary, and armed with a broad, blunt nail, 

 instead of a well developed claw. The soles are nearly naked, except on the middle, where 

 they are hairy. The tail and skull are wanting. The fur is very stiff and coarse. The color 

 is a dull yellowish chestnut above ; beneath, rusty yellowish white. 



Dr. Hayden met with a small spermophile in 1855, probably of this species, in considerable 

 numbers, a little south of the United States boundary line of 49, and nortli of Fort Union ; 

 he was, however, unable to obtain specimens. According to Richardson, it inhabits the grassy 

 plains lying between the north and south branches of the Saskatchewan, living in deep burrows 

 in the sandy soil. 



SPERMOPHILUS TOWNSENDII, Bach. 



Townsend's Ground Squirrel. 



Spermophilus toicnsendii, BACIIMAN, J. A. N. Sc. Phil. VIII, i, 1839, 61. IB. In Townsend's Narrative, 1839, 31G. 

 WAGNER, in Wiegmanu's Archiv, 1843, II, 45. 

 ADD. and BACH. N. Am. Quad. Ill, 1853, 226; pi. cxlvii, f. 1. 

 Ardomys (Spermophilus) guUatus ? Rich F. Bor. Am. I. 1829, 162. IB. Zool. of Blossom, 1839, 12. 



WAOSER, Suppl. Schreb. Ill, 1843, 239. (Note.) 

 ? Spermophilus yuttatus, SCHIXZ, Syn. Mam. II, 1845, 66. 



SP. Cu. About the size of Sciurus hudsonius ; ears obsolete ; tail cylindrical, very short, with the hair, scarcely twice the 

 length of hind feet. Above, dark brown, with numerous obsolete and crowded light spots; belly whitish. Length about 

 7 inches ; tail less than 2 inches; hind foot 1.30. 



As no specimens of this species were collected by any of the expeditions, I have based a 

 description upon the original of Bachman's article, in the collection of the Philadelphia 

 Academy of Natural Sciences. The mounted animal is in rather a greasy condition, and does 

 not admit of a very satisfactory description. It is marked as collected in the Rocky Mountains, 

 by Townsend. 



The animal appears to be rather longer than 8. tridecemlincatus. The ears are very short, 

 with scarcely any projecting auricle. The tail is very short, with the hairs scarcely twice the 

 length of the hind feet. The feet are large and broad. I cannot speak of the character of the 

 soles, as these are fastened to the board on which the animal is mounted. 



The upper parts are of a dark brown, with numerous crowded obsolete light spots ; the belly 

 and feet dull brownish white ; the tail above is colored like the body ; beneath, rather reddish ; 

 there are no distinct bands in the hairs as in most species. 



Measurements. 



