RODENTIA: SCIURHXE. 91 



half the length of the body, Fi * 78> 



the color dark brown above, 

 with light stripes and lines of 

 light spots alternating with 

 each other, there being six of 

 the former and five of the lat- 

 ter. This is one of the most 

 beautiful animals of the ge- 

 nus. Its burrows are quite 



* ( Leopard Spermophue, 



deep and branching, and into s. tridecem-Uneatus, Aud. & Bach, 

 these it at once disappears with a chirp whenever it is 

 alarmed. 



The Mexican Ground Squirrel, S. mexicanus, Wagner, 

 of Texas and Mexico, resembles the Striped Gopher. 



The Sonora Ground Squirrel, 5. spilosoma, Bennett, is 

 found from New Mexico to the Gulf of California. 



Parry's Marmot, 5. Parryi, Rich., found upon the shores 

 and islands of the Arctic Seas, is about the size of the 

 Fox Squirrel. 



The Yellow Gopher, 5. Richardsonii, F. Cuv., of 'Mich- 

 igan to the Rocky Mountains, is rather larger than the 

 Red Squirrel. 



Townsend's Spermophile, S. Townsendii, Bach., of the 

 Rocky Mountains to the north, is about the size of the 

 Red Squirrel. 



The Genus Cynomys Prairie Dogs is characterized 

 by rudimentary cheek-pouches, short ears and tail, five 

 distinct claws to all the feet, and very large molars. 



The Prairie Dog, C. ludoviciamis, Baird, of the Mis- 

 souri region, and westward and southward, is about the 

 size of the Fox Squirrel, but heavier, appearing much 

 like a miniature woodchuck. Its color is reddish-brown 

 above, and brownish-yellow below. These animals ut- 

 ter a sharp chirp, which is called barking ; hence their 

 name. They live in burrows, and large numbers are 

 often found in the same locality, forming communities 



