378 



YERTEBRATA. 



The ( m S,.i ikkki . S. cm r< us, is smaller than the fox-squirrel, yet larger than the gray squir- 

 rel, being a trifle over a fool long, with a tail aboul an inch shorter. It varies in color from light 

 gray to Dearly black; the prevailing colors are, however, gray, orange, and nearly black. Its 

 form is peculiarly stout; the fur is somewhat woolly; the tail broad and flat. Its habits resemble 

 those • f other Bquirrels, though it moves with Less acth ity; it is fat in autumn, and its flesh is more 

 valued than any other species. It is found sparsely in the tall aged forests of the Middle States. 



ii,,,,. i v --' Squirrel, S. Douglassii, resembles the chickaree, being, however, one-quarter 

 larger, thai is, somewhal over nine inches in length, with a tail six inches, including the fur. Its 

 :■ is dark brown above and buff beneath. It abounds along the banks of the Columbia River, 

 and lays up abundance of acorns and pine-cones as food for winter, during which time it is impris- 

 oned in its nest. 



The Red-Bellieb Squirrel, S.fcrriigiiiiccitlris, is a trifle smaller than the Carolina gray squir- 

 rel, being oearly nine inches long, with a tail ten inches, including the fur. Its color is light gray 

 above, though brown on the shoulders; beneath, it is a bright russet. It is a native of California, 

 but its peculiar habits are little known. 



Richardson's Columbia Squirrel, S. Richardsonii, is a beautiful little animal, six and a quar- 

 ter inches long, with a rathe!' shOTt tail. Its color is a rusty gray above, and whitish beneath. 

 It frequents the pine-trees in the high Rocky Mountains west of the great chain, and feeds upon 

 the bud- of the cones, which are large, white, and nutritious, and are esteemed good food by the 

 Indians. It has a loud, jarring chatter, and frequently comes down from the trees nearly to the 

 fool t" reconnoiter a passenger, and if it disapproves, gives him a fierce scolding. 



The Down? Squirrel, *S'. lanuginasus, is a trifle stouter than the chickaree, being nearly 

 eight inches long, with a tail six inches. It is a beautiful creature, its fur being thick, soft and 

 downy, superior in this respect t<> any other species. It is light chestnut-brown above, silver- 

 gray "it the sides, and pure white beneath. Its habits are little known; it, however, burrows in 

 the earth, and appears to approach the spermophiles in its characteristics. It is found in the 

 northwestern parts of North America, from Oregon to the Russian settlements. 



The We \-ii.-like Squirrel, S. mustelinus, is thirteen inches long, with a tail thirteen inches; 



olor is glossy black; its body is long and slender; it inhabits the pine-forests of California, 



and 11 the cones; it hides itself with great cunning and alertness in the thick evergreen 



foliage, and hence is rarely caught. Its young, like those of all other squirrels, are born blind, 



but of its other traits of character and habits we have no particular information. 



A i dubon's Squirrel, or Large Louisiana Black Squirrel, S. Auduboni, is eleven and a 

 half indies long, with a tail of the same length. The fur is harsh, but glossy, black above, and 

 brownish beneath. It frequents high grounds, and displays the usual vivacity of the genus. It 

 i- found in Louisiana, and is sometimes brought to the market of New Orleans. 



Colon] l Abert's Squirrel, S. Aberti, is thirteen inches long, tail eleven inches; the general 

 color is dark gray above and white beneath. It is found in New Mexico. 



The California Gray Squirrel, S. fossor, is twelve and a half inches long, the tail ten 

 inch'-. The body above is light gray; beneath, white. It is a beautiful species, found in the 

 pine-woods "i" California, where it lives on nuts, roving about from one locality to another. It 

 has the habit of running much on the ground, and has a bark similar to that of the gray squirrel, 

 which it often exercisi 9 on hearing the whistle of the Carolina partridges. 



Fi Squirrel, S. Fremonti, is about as large as the chickaree, the tail being shorter 



than the body; the color is light gray above, and ashy-white below. The body is rather short 

 and stout; the fur long and soft. It is found in the Rocky Mountains. 



• S.fuliginosus, is ten inches lone-, and the tail eight and a half inches; color, 

 black above, tinged with yellowish-brown; below, reddish-brown. It appears, however, to be sub- , 

 ject to some variations of color. It is found in the swampy regions of Louisiana and Mississippi. 



1 ' Squirrel, S. Collaei, resembles the gray squirrel; it is nearly eleven inches long, with 



I nine and a half inches; above, its color is a mixture of brownish-black- and yellow; below, 

 m-white. It is found in southern California and the adjacent parts of Mexico. 



Thi Dusky Sqi creel, 8. nigrescens, \< a large species, nearly equal to the cat-squirrel, with 



