1 66 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. [Vol. XV I, 



10. Tayassu pecari ringens (Merriam). 



Tayassu albirostris ringens MERRIAM, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. XIV, 

 121, July 19, 1901. Apazote, Campeche. 



Indeterminate. 



Dicotyles minor SCHINZ, Cuvier's Thierreich, IV, 1825, 511. Based 

 on a young specimen from an unknown locality. "Vaterland? Sud- 

 amerika. (Frankfurter Museum.) " 



IV. THE PROPER SPECIFIC NAME OF THE WESTERN 

 Fox SQUIRREL. 



The Western Fox Squirrel was described by Custis in 1806, 

 under the name Sciurus ludovicianus, and this has been sup- 

 posed to be the earliest name for the species. The next name 

 in point of date has been currently supposed to be lt Scmrus 

 rufiventer Geoff.," published by Desmarest in 1817 (Nouv. 

 Diet. d'Hist. Nat., X, 1817, p. 103). As the name here stands, 

 it is apparently a manuscript or museum name of Geoffrey's, 

 here first published by Desmarest, and has usually been thus 

 considered. It was, however, first published by E. Geoffroy 

 himself in 1803 (Cat. Mus. d'Hist. Nat., 1803, p. 176), and is based 

 on a specimen of the Western Fox Squirrel sent to him by 

 Michaux. Desmarest apparently redescribed the same speci- 

 men. As there has never been any doubt as to the pertinency 

 of Geoffrey's name to this animal, and as it has three years' 

 priority over ludovicianus of Custis, it will have to be adopted 

 as the specific designation of the Sciurus ludovicianus group. 



There is, furthermore, little doubt that Bachman's name 

 Sciurus texianus (P. Z. S., 1838, p. 86) should replace Sciurus 

 limitis Baird (1855). While Bachman's description appears 

 to have been based on various specimens seen in different 

 European museums (he mentions first a specimen in the Paris 

 Museum said to have been "received from Mexico," and an- 

 other in the British Museum "obtained at Texas by Mr. 

 Douglas," and still another as received through a friend from 

 "the south-western part of Louisiana"), it applies satisfac- 

 torily to the Texas Fox Squirrel, and he gives its range as 

 "extending perhaps from the south-western portions of 

 Louisiana, through Texas into Mexico." He further says it 



