240 RODENTIA. 



HUDSON'S BAY SQUIBEEL. 

 Sciurus hudsonius. 



This Squirrel is smaller than the foregoing, and is 

 certainly a distinct species. It is about 4 inches long, 

 with the tail of the same length. It is of a grizzly 

 chestnut colour, or greenish colour, with a band of red 

 on the back. The tail is thinly covered with coarse 

 greyish hairs. The teeth are set in a circular socket. 



This Squirrel is exclusively an inhabitant of the 

 Hudson's Bay Territory, and has been called the 

 Chickaree. 



Six thousand skins were sold by the Hudson's Bay 

 Company in 1885, at 8s. 6d., 4s. 6d., and 7s. per 100. 

 In 1886, 8,441 skins were imported by the Company, 

 but in 1891, only 473, which sold at 3s. 9d. per hundred. 



Its fur, as may be seen from the above prices, is of 

 little value, and is hardly worth collecting. It is some- 

 times made into linings. The skins are probably taken 

 with those of other animals. 



Dr. Kichardson, in his "Northern Zoology," p. 187, 

 says : " It digs its burrows generally at the root of one 

 of the largest and tallest trees it can select, and forms 

 four or five entrances, around which very large quanti- 

 ties of the scales of spruce-fir cones are in process of time 

 accumulated. It does not come abroad in cold or stormy 

 weather, but even in the depth of winter it may be seen, 

 during a gleam of sunshine, sporting amongst the bark 

 of its tree. In the fur countries it subsists chiefly, if not 

 entirely, on the seeds and young buds of the spruce-fir." 



" The flesh of this Squirrel is tender and edible, but 

 that of the male has a strong murine flavour." 



