34 



UNITED STATES AXD MEXICAN BOUNDARY 



ORDEE 



RODENTIA. 



27. SCIURUS LIMIT [S; B air d (p. 256.)— Texas Fox S(iuirreL 



This species is intermediate ia size between S, migratorius and carolhiensis ^ and is c[iiite well 

 cliaracterized \>j the sparseness of hair everywhere and its compactness ; features which we 

 should expect to find in a squirrel from the warmer portions of Texas. There are hut four 

 upper molars on each side, all large. The head is hroad and rather short; the septum of the 

 nose naked. The ears appear to he unusually high^ and coated equally on both sides with very 

 short hairs, without any hushiness or tufts even at the base. The feet are less in their propor- 

 tions than many other species. The claws, however, are well developed ; the fourth finger is 

 longest, the third shorter, the second reaching to the base of the claw of the third and shorter 

 than the fifth, the first or thumb rudimentary, as usual ; palms naked. On the hind feet the 

 second, third, and fourth toes are nearly equal ] the claw of the fifth reaching a little beyond 

 the base of the claw of the fourth, the first in turn bearing the same relation to the fifth. The 

 sole is naked from the tarsus, (or on the under side of the metatarsus,) a few short hairs only 

 being seen near the outer edge. The inferior surface of the toes is also naked, and without any 

 fringe projecting from the sides. Both palms and soles are dark brown. 



As the tip of the tail is broken ofi*, the exact proportions cannot be ascertained ; the hairs, 

 however, are rather short and sparse, more scanty than in any other species examined. 



As already stated, the hairs everywhere are short ; the longest on the back do not measure 

 half an inch, while the average is not more than four lines. The upper parts are a mixed 

 cinnamon and black ; the individual hairs being light plumbeous at the base, then cinnamon, 



4 



then black and tipped with cinnamon brown. The sides of the head, both surfaces of ears. 



( 



(not rufous,) 



the feet are tinged with rusty. The hairs on the under surface of the tail are uniform, and of 

 a color a little deeper than that of the belly ; those above are like the back, (the color, however. 



more yellowish,) 



more 



There is no decided preponderance of color 

 on the upper part and sides of the tail. 



A single specimen of this species was obtained by Mr, Clark on Devil's river, or the San 

 Pedro of the Bio Grande, Texas. 



; ears above the skull, .60 ; ears on 



1.67; longest hairs of 



(multilated 



posterior edge, .75 



wrist, 1.08; hind feet from heel. 



tail, 2.17 ; length of skull, 2,25 ; width of skull between 

 Notwithstanding the marked difference in color and size 

 American fox squirrels, I am far from feelino^ sure 



common 



far from feeling sure now that it is anything more than a local 

 n fox squirrel. Had I deferred characterising the species until 

 the present day, I should hardly have ventured upon a new name without a more ample knowledge 

 of the North American squirrels than I possessed two years ago. I only retain it now pro- 



