Order 5. RODENTIA. 97 



arranged by Cuvier, effect a transition in the rutliniental character of their dentition fi-om the 

 Carnivora to the Rodentiaj inasmuch as the canines, and not the incisors, disajjpear in them 

 (as observable in Hi/psiprymnus) : the Wombat {Phascalornys) might indeed be thought to 

 present a sohtary exception to this remark ; but there is reason to beheve that the gnawing 

 teeth of this animal are modified incisors. Perhaps the nearest affinity of the Rodeiitia is 

 with the Elephant, among the Pachydermata.'] 



Some of the Rodentia even ascend trees with facility. Such are 



The SauiRRELS {Sciurus, Lin.), — 



Which may be recognized by their veiy compressed lower incisors, and by their long bushy tail. Their 



fore-feet have only four toes, the hinder five : the site of the anterior thumb is however marked by a 



tubercle [and it is between these tubercles of the two fore-paws that the Squirrels and allied genera 



hold up their food to the mouth]. They have in all four grinders to each jaw, variously tubercu- 



lated, and a verv' small additional one above in front, which soon falls. Their head is large, the eyes 



prominent and hvely. They are light and agile animals, which nestle on trees, and subsist upon their 



produce. 



The Squirrels, properly so called (Sciurus, Cuv ), — 



Have the hairs on the tail dhected laterally, so as to resemble a feather. There are numerous species 

 on both continents. 



The Common Squirrel {Sc. vtilgaris, L.)— [Bright red in summer, with a dash of g^ey on the upper parts iu 

 winter, at which latter season the fur is much finer, and the ears are terminated with long hairs ; the belly white.] 

 One of the most beautiful is the 



Sc. maximus and macrourus, a native of India.— Nearly the size of a Cat ; above, black, the flanks and top of the 

 head a beautiful bright maroon, the head, and all the under parts of the body, with the inside of the limbs, pale 

 yellow I a maroon-coloured band behind the cheek. It inhabits the palms, and is extremely fond of the milk of 

 the cocoa-nut. 



There are several species in warm climates, remarkable for the longitudinal bands which adorn their fur. Such 

 are the Palmist [which has been known to vary entirely black, or white, &c. Certain African species, inhabiting 

 rocky situations, the tail of which is not bushy, but thinly covered with stiff appressed hairs, and somewhat tufted at 

 the extremity, constitute the Petronuis of Smith and others, also from Africa, which are entirely covered witli 

 coarse rigid fur, the claws of which also are long and straight, adapted for burrowing only, compose the Xerus, 

 Emp., and Ehr. ; Geosciurus, Smith : many of the latter animals live together, in holes of the ground ; subsisting 

 mainly on roots, for which they scratch up the soil. Sc. capensis, Thunberg, is an example of this form.] 



It is probable that we shall have to separate from the Squirrels certain species that have cheek- 

 pouches, hke the Hamsters, and which retreat into subterraneous holes. They are 



The GROUND-sauiRRELS {Tamia, Illig.). 

 Such are 



The Sc. striatum, Lin., which is found throughout northern Asia and America, particularly in the pine forests. 

 The tail is less bushy than in the Common Squirrel of Europe, the ears smooth, and fur brown, with five black 

 stripes and two white ones. [Those from America are specifically dififerent, and indeed constitute two or three 

 separate species.] 



We ought also, most probably, to distinguish 



The G0ERLINGUETS \_{Macroxus, Bodd.)], — 

 Wherein the tail is long, and almost round, and the scrotum pendent and enormous. In both the 

 Ground-squirrels and GuerUnguets, the teeth are similar to those of the true Squirrels. 

 Species of them occur on both continents. 



The Taguans, Assapans, or Flying Squirrels, {Pteromys, Cuv.) — 

 Have already been separated. In these the skin of the flank, extending between the fore and hind 

 legs, imparts the faculty of sustaining themselves for seme instants in the air, and of making immense 

 leaps. Their feet have long osseous appendages, which support a portion of this lateral membrane. 



There is a species in Poland, Russia, and Siberia (Sciurus volans, Lin.)— Greyish ash-colour above, white below ; 

 the tail only half the length of the body: size of a Rat; and which lives solitarily in the forests. Another in 

 North America, smaller, with the tail only a fourth shorter than the body (,Se. volucella, Lin.) : it lives in troops iu 

 the prairies of the more temperate districts. 



G 



