RODENTIA SCIURINAE SPERMOPHILUS TOWSENDII. 327 



This species comes quite near to the Spermopliilus guttatus of Asiatic Russia. A typical 

 specimen (1450) of the latter species has the spots much more distinct and larger, the 

 ground color of the back very similar to that of S. mexicanus, and with the spots quite similar, 

 though larger, more quadrate, and more crowded ; as well as without the distinctly linear 

 arrangement of S. mexicanus. Another specimen, (1643,) from the shores of the Caspian, 

 however, has the spots much less distinct, and more, as in S. townsendii, owing to their 

 yellowish rusty color, and the much paler hue of the ground. The tail is also shorter and 

 more cylindrical. In both, however, the tail is shorter than in S. townsendii. 



This species was first described by Kichardson as a variety of S. guttatus. According to 

 Schinz, an American species first received the name of guttatus, for which reason he calls the 

 Siberian animal guttulatus. I am unable to find any description of an American marmot under 

 the name of A. guttatus prior to the date of 1827, when Temminck gave it to the Siberian 

 animal. Schinz refers to the Rocky Mountains as the habitat of his S. guttatus, which agrees 

 very well with S. toivnsendii. He quotes Temminck, Mon. Mamm. I, p. xxvii, and Cuv. and 

 Geoff. Mammif. Ill, Lev. 45. 



In the preceding pages I have given all the species of spermophiles that have come under 

 my notice, and I have little doubt that they embrace all that are well established as inhabit 

 ants of America, north of Mexico. It will be seen that none are found east of the Mississippi 

 river, with the exception of Spermophilus 13-lineatus, which reaches as far as the eastern portion 

 of Michigan, and franklini, which is found in Illinois. Further west they become more 

 abundant, and have their greatest development in the region between the Missouri and the 

 Rocky Mountains, extending northward to the Arctic ocean, and south into Mexico. This is 

 especially the home of the species with very short ears, rather short tail, and soles usually 

 more or less hairy. In the Rocky Mountains we first find the Spermophiles with long ears and 

 long full tail, and having much the appearance and habits of the squirrels; these extend west, 

 becoming more and more numerous in individuals to the Pacific coast. A single species occurs 

 in eastern Mexico, south of the Rio Grande, (S. couchii.) 



The remaining species, described as North American by various authors, are as follows : 



SPERMOPHILUS ANNULATUS, Aud. and Bach. 



Spermophtiw annulatus, AUD. and BACH. J. A. N. Sc. Phil. VIII, n, 1842, 319. IB. N. Am. Quad. II, 1851, 213 : 

 p. Ixxix. 



The animal described under this name by Audubon and Bachman was purchased by me 

 from a dealer many years ago and presented to Mr. Audubon. It was supposed to have been 

 brought from the west, and, as such, was described by the above authors. I have, however, 

 little doubt that it is an African species of Sciurus, and, in fact, it resembles closely, if it be 

 not identical with, the Sciurus rufobrachiatus of Fraser, in Zoologia Typica, said by him to be 

 closely related to the Sciurus annulatus of western Africa. In any event, it must be eliminated 

 from the list of North American spermophiles. 



SPERMOPHILUS MACROURUS, Bennett. Hab. west coast of Mexico. 



Spermophilus macraurns, BENNETT, Pr. Zool. Soc. Lond. I, 1833, 41. 



AUP. and BACH. N. Am. Quad. Ill, 1853, 181 ; pi. cxxxix. 



WAGNER, Suppl. Schreb. Ill, 1843, 246. 

 Otospermophttus macrounts, BEANDT, Bull. Phys. Math. Acad. St. Pet. II, 1844, 380. 



