CLASS I. MAMMALIA: ORDER 1. RODENTIA. 



365 



hair, four and a half. It is found in the prairies east of the Rocky Mountains, from lat. 55° south 

 to Mexico, and often takes up its residence near the grounds of the settlers. It is lively as it is 

 beautiful, making deep, winding, bifurcated burrows in the earth, at the mouth of which it may 

 be often seen. If any one approaches it darts into its hole, and continues to utter a chirping 

 sound of anger and warning. Like the other spermophiles it uses its cheek-pouches to carry off 

 nuts and other things to its nest. The females produce from five to ten young at a birth, about 

 the first of June. 



& 



THE LEOPARD SPERMOPHILE. 



The Annulated Squirrel Marmot, S. annulatus, is of a reddish-brown, speckled below with 

 black. The length of the body is eight inches ; the tail, including the hair, nine inches. This is 

 annulated with seventeen to twenty bands of black. In its structure and character it seems a sort 

 of connecting link between the squirrels and marmots : it has the lightness of form of the first and 

 burrows like the last. It has cheek-pouches, which gives it a place among the spermophiles. 

 This species are found on the western prairies. 



Franklin's Marmot Squirrel, S. Franklinii, is yellowish-brown, thickly speckled with black 

 above ; below it is greyish-white. The length is nine and three-quarter inches ; the tail, with the 

 hair, five and three-quarters. It inhabits the plains in the western British territories and Oregon, 

 and burrows among thickets in the sandy soil. Like most of the spermophiles, it has a harsh, 

 whistling note, expressive of alarm or anger. 



Say's Marmot Squirrel, S. lateralis, is the Arctomys lateralis of Richardson, and the Small 

 Gray Squirrel of Lewis and Clark. It is a true spermophile, though resembling the Tamil?, of 

 which the Chipping- Squirrel is a familiar example. Above, it is brownish-ash; the sides and belly 

 are yellowish-white. On each side of the body is a light longitudinal stripe, banded on both 

 sides by a dark stripe, giving it the appearance of having four black stripes running along the 

 back. The general effect is very beautiful. The length of the body is eight inches, and the tail, 

 with the hair, three inches and a half. It is found in the Rocky Mountains, about latitude 57°. 



Peale's Spermophile, S. Pealei, is a species which appears to have been discovered by Pike's 



Exploring Expedition, but neither its habits nor locality are known. It is somewhat larger than 



,the chipping-squirrel, and has four brown and five white stripes, Its length is s six and a half inches. 



The Mexican Marmot Squirrel, S. Mexicanus, the S. spilosoma of Benn'ett, is reddish-brown, 

 spotted with white above ; the under parts are a pale buff-white ; the length ten inches. This is 

 a beautiful and interesting species, lively as a squirrel in its disposition and movements, with a 

 very bright and sagacious expression of countenance. When domesticated, it becomes gentle and 



