RED SQUIRREL. 231 



a band along the side, light red. The mystachial 

 oristles dark-brown. 



Inches. Lines. 



Length to end of tail 9 



Length of head 2 2 



Length of neck and body 6 10 



Length of tail to end of hair , 8 



The female is smaller, and generally of a lighter 

 colour. In two individuals examined, the intestinal 

 canal was much shorter than that of the male men- 

 tioned above ; the oesophagus in one being four 

 inches long ; the intestine to the ccecum two feet 

 nine inches ; the ccecum two inches ; the rest of 

 the intestine nine inches. Of this individual the 

 length was fifteen inches, that of the tail being 

 seven. 



In younger individuals the colour is redder than 

 in adults, in which it is seldom destitute of a grey 

 tinge, owing to the minute markings above de- 

 scribed ; and I have seen some in which the grey 

 predominated over the red. In April and May, the 

 hair of the upper parts assumes a singularly faded 

 appearance, losing its gloss, and assuming a light- 

 yellowish tint. In the latter month the process of 

 depilation commences, to be completed by the end 

 of June, when the ears are destitute of tufts. . It 

 appears that the long hairs which fringe the ears 

 are not proportionally longer than the rest until 

 November, that they then gradually elongate, attain 

 their extreme development in spring, and remain 



