Monograph of the Genus Sdimis. 291 



among varieties of the same species. From such causes of un- 

 certainty, and the too sUght attention which American natural- 

 ists have hitherto given to their elucidation, all our existing mo- 

 nographs remain all more or less erroneous. 



The task of correcting these deficiences, and adding to our 

 former knowledge of the genus, has not been undertaken by me 

 without due caution. Many hundred specimens from various 

 parts of North America have been carefully examined and com- 

 pared. I have been enabled to procure specimens of all the spe- 

 cies with but one exception, (S. macrourus. Say) and this latter I 

 had also an opportunity of examining in the collection of the 

 Philadelphia Museum. 



Many species, no doubt, remain as yet undiscovered. Louis- 

 iana, with the countries bordering upon Texas and Mexico, may 

 hereafter reward the quest of naturalists with many new and in- 

 teresting forms. 



Order RODENTIA. 



Genus Sciurus, Linn., Cuvier, etc. 



Dental formula — Incis. | Can. |f Gr. || or ^^ — ^20 or 22. 



Species — Capistratus. Fox Squirrel. 



S. capistratus ; Bosc, ' Ann. du Museum,' v. i. p. 281. 



S. vulpinus? Linn. Ed. Gmelini, 1788. 



S. niger ; Catesby. 



Black squirrel ; Bartram's Travels. 



S. capistratus; Desm. Mammalogie, p. 332. 



S. variegatus ; Desm. idem, p. 333. 



S. capistratus; C. 'Regne An.' v. i. p. 193. 



Fox squirrel ; Lawson's Carolina, p. 124. 



S. vulpinus ; Godman. 



Essent. CHAR. Size large; tail longer than the body; hair 

 coarse ; ears ajid nose white ; subject to great varieties in color. 

 Dental formula. In. |. Can. f^. Grind. ||. — 20. 



General description. Forehead slightly arched ; whiskers 

 black, longer than the head ; hair very coarse, appearing in some 

 specimens geniculate ; tail broad and distichous ; body strong 

 and heavy. Var. griseus, nose, ears, feet and belly white ; fore- 



