86 



VERTEBRATES : MAMMALS. 



their occasional extensive migrations. Assembling in im- 

 mense numbers, they make their way across the country, 

 swimming streams, and turning aside for no obstacle. 



Fig. 74. The Texas Fox Squirrel, 



S. limitis, Baird, is somewhat 

 smaller than 5. carolinensis. 



The California Gray Squir- 

 rel, 5. fossor, Peale, is about 

 the size of 5. vulpinus, but 

 more slender. 



The Chestnut-Backed Squir- 

 rel, vS. castanonotus , Baird, of the 

 Rocky Mountains, is about the 

 size of 5. cinereus. 



The Tuft-Eared Squirrel, S. 

 Aberti, Woodh., of San Fran- 

 cisco Mountains, is about eleven 

 inches long to the tail. This 

 is considered the handsomest 

 squirrel in America. 

 The Red Squirrel, or Chickaree, 5. ktidsonius, Pallas, 

 of the United States east of the Missouri, and north to 

 Hudson's Bay, is seven to eight inches long to the tail, 

 which is about six inches ; the color above and on the 

 sides mixed black and grayish-rusty, with a broad band 

 of bright ferruginous along the back and upper surface 

 of the tail ; beneath, dingy white. These squirrels are 

 seen at all seasons of the year, and in all kinds of 

 weather. In the Northern forests the 

 deepest snows of winter are soon cov- 

 ered with their tracks, and penetrated 

 by holes bored to find the cones of 

 spruce, pine, and the nuts scattered be- 

 neath, or which they had hidden the 

 skuii of Red Squirrel, previous autumn. They often sit for 



Gray Squirrel, Southern var., 

 S. carolinensis, Gm. 



Fig. 75- 



