Family SCIURIDAE 143 



The skull is 43-49 mm. (about 1 v j inches) long. The third 

 upper premolar, if present, is very small, and the upper cheek 

 teeth are less than 10 mm. long. Dental formula: I 1/1, CO/0, 

 Pm 2/1 or 1 1. M 3 3. 



Life History. — In former years, the red squirrel probably 

 frequented the hardwood and coniferous forests of northern 

 1 llinois. 



This squirrel does not hibernate, although it becomes inactive 

 during: periods of extreme cold. It sometimes makes long bur- 

 rows in snow, probably in search of food. Usually it makes its 

 nest of grasses and leaves in a cavity of a tree, but sometimes 

 it makes a leaf nest among the branches. 



Distribution. — Although it almost certainly no longer inhab- 

 its Illinois, the red squirrel formerly occurred in scattered col- 

 onies in the northern part of the state. There are four au- 

 thentic records of this squirrel for the state: Lake Forest and 

 Fox Lake in Lake County, Lawnridge in Marshall County, and 

 Hennepin in Putnam County. The specimens on which these 

 records are based (all collected before 1912) belong to the sub- 

 species Tamiasciurus hudsonicus loquax (Bangs). The species 

 occurs throughout most of Canada and Alaska; in western 

 United States in mountainous areas as far south as southeast- 

 ern Arizona; in eastern United States as far south as southern 

 Iowa, central Indiana, and western North Carolina. 



SCIURUS CAROLINENSIS Gmelin 

 Eastern Gray Squirrel 



Description. — The eastern gray squirrel, fig. 81, generally 

 is grayish on the back and sides and has a wash or overlay of 

 fulvous or yellow on the sides and legs. The belly is white or 

 light gray, and the bushy tail is gray, tipped with white. Tufts 

 of white hair behind the ears and a ring of white around each 

 eye are characteristic. 



Melanistic ("black") or albinistic ("white") individuals or 

 colonies of this species are occasionally seen. In former years, 

 melanistic individuals were frequently found, especially in the 

 northern part of Illinois. In the middle 1800s, an entire group, 

 numbering nearly 50 individuals, near the Rock River con- 

 sisted of "blacks." At present, there is a sizable colony of 

 albinistic individuals established in and near Olnev. 



