Art. XII.— ReTisioM of the Genus Sciuru§. 



By Dr. E. L. Trouessart.* 



[Translated, with Notes, by Dr. Elliott Coues, U. S. A.t] 



The Sciuridce now consist of the genera Pteromys, Sciurus, TamiaSj ' 

 Cynomys^ SpennopMlus, and Arctomys.X 



If from the true Squirrels be separated the Chipmunks, which form a 

 separate genus (Tamias)^ well characterized by special habits, presence 

 of cheek-pouches, and some other peculiarities in relation with subter- 

 ranean mode of life, the genus Sciurus still consists of a large number 

 of species occurring in all parts of the world excepting the Madagascau 

 and Australian zoological regions. 



Most modern authors likewise distinguish by the name Xertis certain 

 African Squirrels notable for their almost entirely prickly pelage. But 

 this characterizes nearly all the African species to some degree ; and 

 writers are far from agreeing as to what are species of Xerus, some in- 

 cluding the greater number of African Squirrels in that genus, while 

 others restrict it to three or four species. In the present state of our 

 knowledge on this point, and until the African forms shall have been 

 fully monographed,§ we prefer to consider Xerus as a subgenus of iSci- 

 urus. 



*Extrait du Journal Le Naiuraliste, No. 37, l^r Octobre 1880, pp. 290-293, et tird h 

 part, in 8°, pp. 1-10, Paris, 1880. — Erratum h. la "Eevision du Genre ficureuil (Sciu- 

 rus)." lUd., No. 40, 15 Novembre 1880, p. 315. 



[tTbe editor's acknowledgments are due to the author for a copy of this interesting 

 paper, in which numerous subdivisions of the genus Sciurus are proposed to be estab- 

 lished. As the publications of the Survey have already included much matter relating 

 to the American Sciuridce, from the pen of Mr. J. A. Allen, it seems litting to present 

 Dr. Trouessart's studies in the same connection. (See Monogrs. N. A. Eodeutia, 1877, 

 pp. 931-939, and this Bulletin, Vol. iv, No. 4, 1878, pp. 877-887. ) The substance of the 

 author's "Erratum," not to be overlooked in using the " Revision," is iucoriiorated in 

 the body of this translation. The translator's notes are bracketed and signed. — C] 



[tThe last-named added in the "Erratum." Nomentionbeiugmadoof iS'ciiO'Ojj/tTMS, 

 we are left to infer that the author would consider that form as a subgenus only of 

 Pteromys; from which, however, it would appear to be well distinguished. — C] 



[^S The author's "Erratum" is chiefly occupied with a revision of the African species, 

 based upon the almost simultaneous memoir of M. Hiiet, which is spoken of in the 

 following terms: "At the very time that our article appeared m La Naturaliste, M. 



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