Monograph of the Genus iSciurus. 295 



ever squirrels are very abundant, men soon become surfeited with this 

 kind of food, and in CaroUna, even among the poorer class, it is not gen- 

 erally preferred. 



" This species, like all the rest of the squirrels, is infested during the 

 summer months with a troublesome larva, which, fastening itself on the 

 neck or shoulders, must be very annoying, as those most affected in this 

 manner are usually poor, and their fur appears thin and disordered. It 

 is however less exposed to destruction from birds of prey and wild beasts 

 than the other species. It leaves its retreat so late in the mornings and 

 retires so early in the afternoons, that it is wholly exempt from the depre- 

 dations of owls, so destructive to the Carolina squirrel. I have seen it 

 bid defiance to the attacks of the red-shouldered hawk, (Falco Uneatus,} 

 the only abundant species in the south, and it frequents those high 

 grounds and open woods where the fox and wild cat seldom resort, dur- 

 ing the middle of the day, so that man is almost the only enemy it has to 

 dread." 



2. Species Texianus. (n. s.) Texian Sq,uirrel. 



In the Museum at Paris, I observed a species of squirrel said to 

 have been received from Mexico, of which I could find no descrip- 

 tion. At Berlin and Zurich I observed the same species, and in 

 the British Museum a specimen obtained by Douglass in Texas, 

 agreeing with the former in every particular. I have also the de- 

 scriptions of a specimen received from the southwestern part of 

 Louisiana, which differs from the above in no important particulars. 



General description. — Size of S. capistratus ; above, mingled 

 black and yellow ; beneath, deep yellow ; under sides of the limbs 

 whitish ; fore legs externally and feet rich yellow ; ears yellow, 

 with white hairs interspersed; nose and lips brownish white. 

 Hairs of tail rusty yellow at base, with a broad black space near 

 extremity, and tipt with yellow. 



Dimensions. 



Length of body, ------ 



" of tail to end of hair, - - 



" , of tarsus, ------ 



Height of ears to end of fur, - - - - 



3. Species sub-auratus. (n. s.) Golden-bellied Squirrel. 



Essential characters. — Size intermediate between the North- 

 ern Grey and the Little Carolina Squirrel ; tail longer than the 

 body ; color above grey, with a wash of yellow, beneath deep gol- 

 den yellow. 



Dental formula.— Incis. |. Can. ^^ Mol. M.— 20. 



