MAMMALS 



35 



vislonallyj until its real cliaracter can "be "better tested hj additional specimens. The locality is 



considerably further west than that of any other specimens which have fallen under my notice. 



351. Devirs river^ Texas. J. H. Clark. J. H. Clark. — 1515. Devil's river, Texas. Dr. 



Kennerly. 



" Of this species but a single specimen was seen, and that on Devil's river, in the midst of thick vegetation. It liad here 

 built a bed of leaves and twigs, into which it ran on being pursued. After it was forced out of this retreat, and wounded, it 

 took to the ground and attempted to hide in the weeds and grass. This squirrel is said to bo quite abundant in eastern Texas, 

 along the margins of rivers where the vegetation is most luxuriant. Its fondness for dense vegetation doubtlc?!s explains its 

 ab ence further west. Neither the bark of this nor the preceding species was heard." — (J. H. Clark.) 



28, SCIURUS LUDOVICIANUS, Oust is. (p, 251.)— Western Fox Sciuirrel 



Undoubted specimens of this species have been found in eastern Texas. 



29. SCIUEUS CAROLINENSIS, ? ?. (p. 263.)— Mexican Grey SquirreL 



In the collection of Lieutenant Couch are two grey so[uirrels from Santa Catarinftj New Lcon^ 

 which differ from the common grey squirrel of the United States in some quite appreciable 

 points. They are smaller, with longer tail, and shorter and broader feet. The hair is coarser, 

 above more decidedly grey and black, beneath very pure white, without any indication 



of the rusty line on the side of the belly, seldom if ever wanting in the more northern grey 

 squirrels. 



The skull differs from that of the common grey squirrel in lacking the small anterior upper 

 molar, leaving but four, as in the fox squirrel. The zygoma extends further backwards, the 

 muzzle shorter and broader. The nasal bones have their edges nearly parallel for the posterior 

 third, instead of a2:)proaching each other gently behind. 



Some skulls from San Antonio, Texas, (without skins,) agree in character with the above; 

 one out of three has the small anterior molar. 



30. SCIUEUS CASTANONOTUS, Baird (p. 206,)— Chestnut-backed Squirrel. 



►« 



This large and stoutly built squirrel belongs to the section with five permanent molars in tlio 

 upper jaw. Of two skulls before me, one, No. 1J.08, shows the two anterior permanent molars 

 just appearing, the temporary ones having been shed; the three x)osterior have their crowns 

 perfectly unworn. There is also a very small rudimentary fifth anterior molar in the lower 

 jaw, which may, however, be the remnant of the deciduous premolar. In another, No. 1107, 

 the five permanent molars are all in place, with the crowns somewhat worn ; the entire fifth 

 molar of the lower jaw has disappeared. These skulls exhibit a somehwat greater prominence 

 than usual of the anterior portion. 



The whiskers are black and longer than the head. The ears are high and not at all tufted, 

 although the hairs are moderately long on the anterior inflected portion. The feet are 

 moderate; the third and fourth fingers equal and longest; the second and fifth about equal; 

 their claws reaching the claws of the others ; the thumb or first, as usual, is rudimentary. 

 The fourth, third, and second toes are successively a little shorter, but longest of all ; the fifth 

 reaches to the claw of the fourth, and the first to that of the fifth ; the soles arc naked from 



