OF THE UNITED STATES 413 



jetty black. Central hairs of tail for its entire length, also black, 

 forming a mid-third stripe down the member. Claws, horn-color 

 and curved. Whiskers composed of six to ten black stiff hairs. 

 (See Fig. 109.) 



There is a splendid black phase or variety of this squirrel 

 which is also said to occur in that region, but I never had the 

 fortune to meet with one. However, I have seen very dark gray 

 ones which are really wonderfully handsome animals, as the 

 white parts in them are generally purer, and the specimens im- 

 proved by the contrast in the colors, which of course is still more 

 decided when they are only snowy white and jetty black, which 

 is said to be the case in the varieties. 



They say that the California gray squirrel (8. fossor) is even 

 a handsomer animal than Abert's, but never having collected the 

 former it becomes impossible for me to express an opinion upon 

 this point, though it is hard to believe that anything in the shape 

 of a squirrel could surpass the present species in its spirited as- 

 pect, its grace and beauty, and then, too, it is one of our largest 

 varieties, which also adds to its otherwise fine appearance. 



Abert's squirrel is fairly abundant in the high pines which oc- 

 cur upon the mountain-sides, principally to the northward and 

 eastward of Fort Wingate, New Mexico, and they have been fre- 

 quently taken within a mile of the station. A good hunter once 

 told me that he shot nine of them in two days, all within five 

 miles of this locality, and only hunted for them a few hours each 

 day. 



The animal is essentially a tree lover, and rarely spends any 

 length of time upon the ground. If you suddenly surprise one in 

 the forest, it immediately seeks the nearest and largest pine tree 

 within its reach by a series of very active jumps and skips, to as- 

 cend it with great rapidity to the first branches, where it often 

 stops to take a glance at the intruder, thereby frequently afford- 

 ing the gunner a capital opportunity to bag the specimen. 



Now of the Arizona squirrel I have collected a number of speci- 

 mens during my stay in those parts, and it is not infrequently 

 seen within the immediate precincts of the station. In appear- 

 ance it far more reminds one of our favorite gray squirrel of the 

 East. It lacks the ear-tufts, and differs markedly from the com- 

 mon gray squirrel in being more of a grizzly color above, and a 

 mixed tawny one beneath. As to its comparative size I cannot 

 speak with certainty, although I am inclined to believe, from 



