Fi ORK Ne 
136 MAMMALTA. 
Scrurvus, Lin. 
Squirrels are distinguished by their strongly compressed inferior 
incisors, and by their long tail furnished with hairs. They have four 
toes before, and five behind. The thumb of the fore foot is some- 
times marked by a tubercle. They have in all four grinders, vari- 
ously tuberculated, and a very small additional one above in front, 
that very soon falls. The head is large, and the eyes projecting and 
lively. They are light and active animals, livigg on trees, and feed- 
ing on fruits. 
Sciurus, Cuy. 
In the Squirrel, properly so called, the hairs of the tail are ar- 
ranged on the sides, so as to resemble a feather. There are a great 
many species in the two continents. 
Se. vulgaris, Buff. VIL, xxxii, Schreb. pl. 212. (The Common 
Squirrel.) The back of a lively red; belly white; ears 
terminated by a tuft of hair. Those of the north, in winter, 
become of a beautiful bluish ash colour, producing the fur 
called minever when taken only from the back, and vair (by the 
French) whenit consists of the whole skin. 
The American species have no pencils to their ears. Such 
are 
Se. cinereus, L.; Petit-Gris, of Buff. X, xxv. (The Grey 
Squirrel of Carolina.) Larger than that of Europe; ash co- 
loured, with a white belly. See Append. VIII of Am. Ed. 
Sc. capistratus, Bosc.3(1) Sc. cinereus, Schreb. CCXIII, B. 
(The Masked Squirrel.) Ash coloured; head black; muzzle, 
ears and belly white. Both these species vary in being more 
or less brown—they are sometimes entirely black.(2) 
The greater number of the species belonging to the eastern 
continent are also destitute of these nus: One of the most 
beautiful is the 
Se. maximus and macrourus,(3) Gm.; Buff. Supp. VII, Ixxii. 
(The Large Squirrel of India.) Nearly the size of a Cat; above 
black ; the flanks and top of the head of a beautiful bright ma- 
ronne; the head, and all the under parts of the body, and the ~ 
(1) See Append. VIII for some observations on our author’s arrangement of the 
American Squirrels. 4m. Ed. 
(2) The Se. vulpinus, the carolinensis, and the niger appear to be mere yarieties 
of this species. [See Append. VIII of Am. Ed.) 
(S) A comparison ofthe figure of Pennant with that of Sonnerat is sufficient to 
prove that they represent the same animal. 
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