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J 
SCIURUS. 
Scrurus, Linn., Pall., Gmel., Cuv., Dum. 
CHARACTER GENERICUS. | 
Dentes incisores duo simplices: superiores cuneati, 
anferiores ad latera compressi ; molares ad utrum- 
que latus superiores quinque, zferiores quatuor. 
Cauda corporis longitudine, compressa, pilosa, disticha. 
Pedes antici tetradactyli, postici pentadactyli. 
SQUIRREL. 
GENERIC CHARACTER. 
Incisor or front teeth simple, two in each jaw ; the upper 
ones wedge-shaped, the under compressed at their sides : 
grinding teeth on each side of the upper jaw, five; of the 
lower, four. 
Tail as long as the body, hairy, compressed, and spread- 
ing laterally. 
Fore feet with four, hinder with five fingers. 
The species of this genus are very lively and active, and 
inhabit the greater portion of the globe, living in trees, and 
feeding on various kinds of fruits. They are very fond of nuts, 
which they open by rasping off the small end with their front 
teeth, and splitting the shell. When eating they sit erect, 
holding their food in their fore feet, which they use as 
hands, and covering their body with their broad tail; from 
which latter circumstance they have derived their name*. 
Those species which inhabit the more temperate regions, 
lay in a hoard of winter provisions, consisting of nuts, 
acorns, &c. which they deposit in the hollow of a tree, or 
_under the earth. 
Squirrels produce from four to seven young at a time, 
They compose their nests with moss, dried leaves and 
nie which they place in the forked branch of a trees 
some of the species have two holes or entrances to their 
nest, and are said by Pliny to stop up that in the windward 
side. 
* From cx, a shade, and zea, a tail. 
