96 



Sciurus nigrescens. A species described by Mr. Bennett, in the 

 Proceedings of the Zool. Soc. for 1833, p. 41. 



Sciurus niger, Linn, non Catesby. The Black Squirrel. 



A little larger than the Northern Gray Squirrel ; fur soft and 

 glossy. Ears, nose, and the whole body, pure black ; a few white 

 tufts of hair interspersed. Incis. -g, canines ^, molars ^^, = 20. 



Of this species Dr. Bachman remarks, " Much confusion has ex- 

 isted with regard to this species. The original Sciurus niger of 

 Catesby is the black variety of the Fox Squirrel. It is difficult to 

 decide, from the descriptions of Drs. Harlan and Godman, whether 

 they refer to specimens of the black variety of the Northern 

 Gray Squirrel, or to the species which I am about to describe. In- 

 deed, there is so strong a similarity, that I have admitted it as a 

 species with some doubt and hesitation. Dr. Richardson has, under 

 the head oi Sciurus niger, (see Fauna Boreali-Americana, p. 191.) 

 described a specimen from Lake Superior, of what I conceive to be 

 the black variety of the Gray Squirrel ; but at the close of the same 

 article (p. 192.), he has described another specimen from Fort 

 William, which answers to the description of the specimens now 

 before me. There is great difficulty in finding suitable characters 

 by which the majority of our species of Squirrel can be designated, 

 but in none greater than in the present. All our naturalists seem 

 to insist that we have a Sciurus niger, although they have applied 

 the name to the black varieties of several species. As the name, 

 however, is likely to continue on our books, and as the specimens 

 before me, if they do not establish a true species, will show a very 

 permanent variety, I shall describe them under the above name. 



" Dr. Godman states (Nat. Hist. vol. ii. p. 133.) that the Black 

 Squirrel has only twenty teeth ; the specimens before me have no 

 greater number, with the exception of one, evidently a young animal 

 a few months old, which has an additional tooth on one side, so 

 small that it appears like a white thread, the opposite and corre- 

 sponding one having already been shed. If further examinations 

 will go to establish the fact that this additional molar in the North- 

 ern Gray Squirrel is persistent, and that of the present deciduous, 

 there can be no doubt of their being distinct species. Its head ap- 

 pears to be a little shorter and more arched than that of the Gray 

 Squirrel, although it is often found that these differences exist 

 among different individuals of the same species. The incisors are 

 compressed, strong, and of a deep orange colour anteriorly. Ears, 

 elliptical and slightly rounded at tip, thickly clothed with fur on both 

 surfaces, that on the outer surfaces, in a winter specimen, extend- 

 ing three lines beyond the margins ; there are, however, no distinct 

 tufts. Whiskers a little longer than the head. Tail long and di- 

 stichous, thickly clothed with moderately coarse hair. 



" ITie fur is softer to the touch than that of the Northern Gray 

 Squirrel. The whole of the upper and lower surface, as well as the 

 tail, are bright glossy black; at the roots the hairs are a little 

 lighter. The summer fur does not differ materially from that of the 



