206 Dr. Capper on the Mammaliu of Upper Canada. 



furnished with these organs. The pencil of hair on the ears of winter 

 specimens is more distinct than it is represented in Dr. Richardson's 

 plate, and the black line on the sides is always more or less distinct ; 

 probably these differences are owing to the fur never becoming so long 

 in these latitudes. 



(60.) Sciurus niger (Linn.) The Black Squirrel. 

 I have generally found them to measure from the tip of the nose to the 

 insertion of the tail rather less than a foot ; the tail itself 13 inches. They 

 are most commonly entirely black, but I have shot several with patches of 

 light brown on the belly, each hair ringed with black ; in other specimens, 

 still more rare, with the whole under parts of this colour, and with many of 

 the hairs on the back and tail ringed with yellowish white. The ears of 

 the Black Squirrel are covered with adpressed hairs in the summer, but 

 in the winter those on the upper side are lengthened so as to over-top the 

 ear about half an inch. It is found in all the settled parts, varying, 

 according to my observation, only as stated above. I have shot many 

 dozens of them. It makes its nest in hollow trees, filling the cavity with 

 thistle-down, in which warm material it buries itself when it retires to 

 rest. 



I have observed the recent tracks of these Squirrels made in the snow 

 during the severest weather, but they do not seem to remain long at a 

 time out of their nest during inclement weather. 

 Sciurus leucotis (nobis.) White-eared Squirrel. 

 Grey Squirrel with a tail rather longer than the head and body ; white 

 ears ; the upper parts varied with a mixture of while, black, and ochry ; 

 under parts greyish white ; tail edged with white. 



Tab. XI. 

 This Squirrel measures, from the nose to the insertion of the tail 12 

 inches ; the tail itself 13. The fur has little lustre, and is slightly crisped- 

 The hairs on the upper parts and tail are all annulated with ochre and 

 black, or black and white ; on the head, and a broad stripe along the back, 

 the tips are ochry ; on the cheeks, a stripe on the sides next the white of 

 the belly, and on the upper part of the foot, excepting the toes, the hair 

 is almost entirely ochry ; on the rest of the sides, limbs, and outside the 

 tail the hairs ^re mostly tipped with white ; the under parts are entirely 

 greyish white ;\ round the eyes and back part of the ears they are pure 



