132 



SCIURID^.- 



-MAMMALIA.- 



-SCIURID.E 



THE BOKKTTL {Sciiirus insignis). — This squirrel 

 inlialiits Sumatra and Java, where, from the observa- 

 tions of Dr. Horsfleld, it would appear to be a very rare 

 species. The fur has a tawny gi'eyish-brown colour 

 generally, becoming ferrtiginous at the sides, and white 

 beneath the belly ; its most characteristic feature con- 

 sists in the presence of blacli bands, which pass from 

 tlie region of the shoulder to the root of the tad. The 

 body, including the last-named organ, is about thirteen 

 inches long. This species, in common with other aUied 

 forms found in India and the adjacent islands, possesses 

 a cylhidrical tail; the ears are also short and rounded. 



THE BAJING- [Sciurus Plavtani) is llkewse a Java- 

 nese form, and is extremely abundant everywhere in the 

 island. It was first described by Ljmig in the twenty- 

 second volume of the Swedish Transactions. The body 

 is seven inches in length, exclusive of the taU, which 

 rather exceeds this measurement. The fur has a beau- 

 tifully variegated ta^vny-bro\vn colour ; the inner parts 

 of the limbs and the belly being of a lighter ycUow. 

 The tail is banded near its root by several dark rings. 

 Tlie Bajing lives principally among the tamarind and 

 cocoa-nut trees. It is readily tamed. 



THE PALM SQUIBEEL {Scinrns j'dlwariim).— This 

 title is aiiplied to several small species which are 

 abundant in India and Africa, and are fomid most com- 

 monly on palm-trees. They commit terrible ravages 

 amongst the fruit, and though much hmited, do not 

 appear to be at all shy. The general ground colour of 

 their fiu is reddish-brown, the siufaoe being generally 

 marked with a varying number of bands; the mferior 

 parts of the belly and the inside of the Umbs are pale 

 yellow; dark-coloiu'od rings also occur on the taU. 

 The body is about a foot in length fi'om the tip of the 

 nose to the extremity of die last-named appendage. 



THE FOUR-BANDED SQUIRKEL {Schmis qua'drivit- 

 fatiis) is thus named from the circumstance of its 

 displaying four white lines on the back, these being 

 separated fi'om one another by intervening bars of a 

 blackish colour. The sides of the body are reddish- 

 brown, the under parts being lighter coloured. This 

 species inhabits the wooded districts of North America. 

 It is a remarkably hvely creature, and when alarmed 

 utters a chirping note, which often proves troublesome 

 to the hunter when in quest of other animals dwelling 

 in the same localities. 



THE GROUND SQUIRREL {Sciurus Lysttri), or 

 Hackee, is an elegant httle species, characterized by 

 the possession of cheek pouches. It has a bro-nmish- 

 grey fiw, subsiding into orange, and becoming white 

 beneath the belly. The sides are also marked by a 

 white band bordered Anth black, extending from the 

 shoulder to the rump. The tail is comparatively short. 

 The Hackee is a native of North America, being 

 alumdant on the shores of Lakes Hiu'on and Superior. 



THE ALPINE MARMOT [Arctomys marmotla) — 

 Plate 14, fig. 44 — is a stout-built animal, about the size 

 of a rabbit, measuring sixteen inches long, excluding 

 the thick-set tail, which gives us six inches more. It 

 inhabits the loftiest slopes of the Alps and PjTenees, 

 immediately beneath the snow line. The fur has a 

 yellowish-grey colour, becommg brownish-gi-ey about 

 the head. Its food consists of insects, as woU as veget- 



able matters. Its burrows in the eai-th have three 

 chambers and two outlets, several retreating uito the 

 same hole. When alarmed they utter shrill cries, and 

 also on the approach of storms. The female produces 

 three or four young at a birth. 



THE POLISH MARMOT [Arctomys Bobac), or BoBAC, 

 is an inhabitant of the smaller hiUs of eastern Europe 

 and Siberia, extendmg all the way fi-om Poland to 

 Kamtschatka. The fur exhibits a yellowish-grey colour, 

 the hairs about the head ha^Tng a russet tint. This 

 species con-esponds very closely v<ith the precedmg in 

 size and general appearance. 



THE SOUSLIK {Spermojjldlus ciicUiis) is a native of 

 Austria, Hungary, Bohemia, and Siberia. It is an 

 attractive-looking species, its grejash-brown fur being 

 prettily marked with small white spots. It belongs to 

 the gi'OTip of marmots possessing cheek pouches. It is 

 said to have a decided likmg for animal food, and wiU 

 occasionally devour its own species. 



THE QUEBEC MARMOT {Arctomys empetra) is, as 

 the title implies, a ziative of Canada. Li appearance it 

 closely resembles the bobac, whilst its habits are similar 

 to those of its congeners generally. The fur exhibits a 

 hoary aspect, with shades of brown and black intermixed, 

 ])assing into reddish orange beneath. The tail is about 

 half the length of the body, and black at the exti'emity. 



THE SHORT-TAILED MARMOT (Arctomys hracky- 

 urus) is an inhabitant of the plains of Columbia, and is 

 characterized by a brownish-grey fur, variegated with 

 red, this colom- becoming more conspicuous underneath 

 the belly. The tail is not shorter than that of several 

 allied species. This animal lives in large companies, 

 a smgle burrow contaming ten or twelve occupants. 

 On being disturbed they utter a shriU whistling cry. 



PENNANTS' MARMOT {Arctomys pruinosus) is de- 

 scribed under the title of the Whistler by Harmon 

 and Su- John Richardson. It is a large species ; a 

 specimen taken on the banks ot the Mackenzie Paver 

 measuring twenty-seven inches in length. The fin- is 

 long, coarse, and of a yellowish-brown colour, the tad 

 being darker and bushy. The Whistler is found occu- 

 pjdng the slopes of the Rocky Mountauis. The female 

 produces two young at a birth. 



THE MARYLAND MARMOT {Arctomys monax), or 

 Wood-chuck, is a well-known native of the central 

 districts of the United States, where it is regarded by 

 farmers as a pest, smee it proves very desti'uotive to 

 the crops of red clover. The habits of tliese animals 

 are social and dim-nal ; for having placed sentinels 

 before tlieir burrows, they wander lorth in mid-day to 

 commit their havoc. They are very prolific, the female 

 producing six young at a birth. The fui' of the adidt 

 has a grey ferruginous colour generally. 



THE PRAIRIE MARMOT {Arctomys latrans), or 

 WlSTONWlSH, is another American species, abounding 

 on the banks of the Missouri and its tributaries. The 

 fur is of a reddish-brown colour, tlie inferior parts being 

 whitish. The tail is short and banded near the tip. 

 When alarmed this creatiue utters a peeuhar barking 

 somid, whence it is often called the prairie dog. Its 

 habits are gi'egarious, hundi'cds of tliem formuig a 

 colony, where they construct deep burrows ; the entrance 

 to each hole being surroimdcd by an elevated mound. 



