APPENDIX. 323 



which is usually answered by another at some distance, for a 

 considerable time. Their note so much resembles that of the 

 dusky grouse, (Tetrao ohscurus,) that I have more than once 

 been deceived by it. — Towns, in lit. 



' Least Ground Squirrel. 



Tamias *minimus, (Bachman.) Journal Acad. Nat. Sciences, 

 Vol. 8, part I. 



" This diminutive and beautiful species of Tamias, not half the 

 size of the common ground squirrel, is another of the discoveries 

 of Mr. Townsend. 



Length of head and body, . . . 3 inches, 9 lines. 



" tail, (vertebrse,) 



" " to the end of fur. 

 Height of ear, posteriorly. 

 Length of head, . . . . 1 " 3 *< 



" heel to end of middle claw, 1 " 



The head is rather small ; the nose very sharp pointed ; claws 

 moderately curved, compressed, acute, and dark brown. There 

 is, as in all the species of this genus, a minute blunt nail on the 

 thumb. The feet and legs rather long in proportion to the size 

 of the animal. 



The fur is soft to the touch, fine and silky. The teeth, which 

 are not robust, are yellow ; a white streak runs from above and 

 behind the eye to the nostrils, giving the nose a sharp and point- 

 ed appearance. This white lino is marked on the upper surface 

 with an edge of brown ; a minute line of rufous runs from the 

 nose through the eye, terminating at the ear, another commencing 

 under the eye, and running parallel with the last, terminates on 

 the neck ; a line of black commencing on the forehead, extends 

 over the back and terminates at the tail ; this is succeeded on 

 each side by a broad line of whitish-ash, then by a narrower line of 

 brown, commencing back of the neck and running parallel 

 with the rest, till it is narrowed to a point on the hips ; this is 

 succeeded by a line of pure white on each side, similar to the 

 last, and finally, by a broader and shorter stripe of brown, giving 

 it on the back one stripe of black, two of light ash, and four of 

 light brown. The head is cinereous ; the ears have a white spot 



