WOOLLY SQUIRREL. 



215 



length from the roots, light pkimbeous, then has a line of light-brown, 

 and is tipped ^vith reddish-brown and black. 



The hairs on the tail, in which the annulations are very obscure, are 

 for one third of their length browiiish-black, then light-bro^vn, then 

 brownish-black, and are tipped with ashy-white. On the under surface 

 the hairs, which are short, are at the base light-plumbeous, tipped with 

 light-bro\A'n and black ; the throat is light grayish-brown. 



Of two specimens received from the same locality, the head of one is 

 lighter-coloured than that of the other, having a shade of yellowish- 

 brown ; in other respects they are precisely similar ; a figure of each is 

 given on the plate. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Length of head and body 



Tail (vertebra) . 



Tail, to end of fur 



Height of ear posteriorly 



Breadth of ear . 



From heel to end of middle 



Hairs on the back 



claw 



m 



inches 



10 



do. 



12 



do. 



0| 



do. 



oa 



do. 



2i 



do. 



U 



do. 



We have been unable to obtain any information in regard to the habits 

 of this species. Its forni, however, indicates that it is a climber, like all 

 the species of the genus, living in forests, feeding on nuts and seeds. Its 

 long woolly coat proves its adaptation to cold regions. 



GEOGKAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 



Our specimens were procured from the northern and mountainous por- 

 tions of California. 



GENERAL REMARKS. 



The difHculty in finding characters by which the various species of 

 this genus can be distinguished, is very great. There is, however, no 

 variety of any other species of squirrel that can be compared with that 

 here described. Its black head and legs, bro\\Ti back and bellj', its broad 

 ears and long woolly hair, are markings by which it may be easily dis- . 

 tinguished from all others. 



Owing to an error in the lettering of our plate of this species, the name 

 attached to the figures was improperly given as S. longipilis. 



