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THE NORTH AMERICAN GREY OR BLACK SQUIRREL. 



(Sciurus leucotis, Gapper ; S. Carolinensis,* Godman.) 



This American species, which exists as far north as Hudson's 

 Bay, was formerly very common in the New England States, 

 and in the less cultivated portions is still frequently found. It 

 is abundant in New York, and in the mountainous portions of 

 Pennsylvania. Dr. Bachman (to whose able monograph on the 

 genus Sciurus I am chiefly indebted for the natural history of 

 this animal), says he has observed it on the northern mountains 

 of Virginia. It probably extends still further south ; in the 

 lower parts of North and South Carolina, however, it is replaced 

 by a smaller species (S. Carolinensis, Gm.). The black variety 

 of the present species is more abundant in Upper Canada, in 

 the western part of New York, and in the States of Ohio and 

 Indiana. 



The length of this species, from the head to the extremity 

 of the body, is eleven inches and three-quarters, or, including 

 the full extent of the tail, two feet and three-quarters. It seems 



* The S. Carolinensis of Gmelin, is the little Carolina grey squirrel a 

 distinct species. 



