160 



TOWNSEND'S GROUND-SQUIRREL. 



them in a point of lighter colour ; a patch of a similar colour commences 

 under the eye-lids, and running along the cheeks terminates at the ear. 



A line of dark bro^vn, commencing at the termination of the nose, 

 where it forms a point, and bordering the fawn-colour above, is gradually 

 blended with the colours of the head ; fur on the outer surface of the ear, 

 brown on the anterior parts, with a patch of white covering about one- 

 fourth of the ear. On the posterior part of the ear there is a slight cine- 

 reous tint about six lines in length, terminating near the shoulder. A 

 black stripe commences on the hind part of the head and runs over the 

 centre of the back, where it spreads out to the width of four lines, termi- 

 nating in a point at the insertion of the tail ; a line of the same colour 

 commences at the shoulders, and running parallel to the first terminates 

 a little beyond the hips ; another, but narrower and shorter, line of black 

 runs parallel with this, low down on the sides, giving it five black stripes 

 about equi-distant from each other. On the throat, belly, and inner parts 

 of the legs and thighs, the colour is light cinereous ; there is no line of 

 separation between the colours of the back and belly. The tail is, on the 

 upper surface, grayish-black, having a hoary appearance. Underneath, 

 it is reddish-brown for two-thirds of its breadth, then a narrow line of 

 black, tipped with light ash. Nails, brown. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Length of head and body 

 " tail (vertebrae) 



" " including fur 



" head 



Height of ear . 



Length from heel to end of nail 



Inches. 



Lines 



6 



9 



4 







5 







2 











6 



1 



6 



No doubt the different species of this genus are as uniform in their 

 habits as the true squirrels. They are usuallj' found seated low, on 

 stumps or rocks, at the roots of or near which, they have their burrows. 

 Their cheek-pouches enable them to carry to these hiding-places, nuts, 

 grains, &c., to serve them for food in winter. Mr. Townsend, who pro- 

 cured the specimens from which we have drawn up our description, ob- 

 serves, " This pretty little fellow, so much resembling our common T. 

 striatus, (Lysteri,) is quite common ; it lives in holes in the ground ; run- 

 ning over your foot as you traverse the woods. It frequently perches 

 itself upon a log or stump, and keeps up a continual clucking, which is 



