CLASS I. MAMMALIA: ORDER 7. RODENT I A. 



373 







fHB MALABAB SQUIRREL. 



Asia has probably twenty species of squirrels, among which is the Malabar Squirrel, S. rnax- 

 imus, the largest of the genus, being the size of a cat. A part of the body above is brilliant 

 red and a part intense black; the under parts are of a bright yellow. It is almost as brilliant 

 as a macaw, while it has all the grace and vivacity of the squirrels. It lives upon the palm- 

 trees alon<? the coast of Malabar. 



The Indian Squirrel, ,S'. Bombayus, is sixteen inches long, and has a tail seventeen inches- 

 It is found in Bombay, and by some is supposed to be a varietv of the Malabar squirrel. 



Prevost's Squirrel, S. Prevostii, is nearlv of the size of the European squirrel; it is black 

 above, yellow on the flanks, and chestnut-color beneath. It is found in India. Here, also, is 

 found the Indian Red Squirrel, S. erytkrceus ; it is a little larger than the preceding, and is 

 yellow and brown above and fawn below. 



Leschexallt'- Squirrel, S. LesckenaultU, is somewhat larger than the European squirrel; it 

 is a foot long, and has a tail of the same length. It is a light brown above, and ydlowish- 

 white below, and is a native of Java. Here also is found the Banana Squirrel, S. plantani, 

 seven inches long, gray above, and yellow below; and the S. tricolor, red above and fawn be- 

 neath. The S. auriventer is of Sumatra. 



The Dandolbana, or Rakea, S. Ceylanensis, greatly resembles the Malabar squirrel; its skin 

 is black above and yellow below ; it is a native of Cevlon. 



The S. hypoleucus and S. ephippium are of the Sunda Isles. 



North America rivals Asia in the number of its species of squirrels, there being about twentv 

 kinds described and verified. The Red Squirrel, or Chickaree, which has acquired the absurd 

 name of Hudson's Bay Squirrel and S. Hudsoniv.s, in the books, is the Common - Squirrel of 

 the 1 xited States, being familiarly known in nearly even - state in the U"ni©n. It is about 

 tfight inches long, with a tail, including the hair, about six inches long. • The color is a reddish- 

 w>wn on the upper surface, often with a tinge of gray; beneath it is white. 



In its habits it is lively and restless to a remarkable degree, running along the fences and 

 tranches of the trees, often leaping from one tree to another with the greatest lightness and agil- 

 •ty, and, as if these exertions were not enough to exhaust its exuberant spirits, it keeps constantly 



