262 



BLACK SQUIRREL. 



there are small tufts of white hairs irregularly disposed on the under 

 surface, resembling those on the body of the mink. There are also a 

 few scattered white hairs on the back and tail. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Length of head and body 



" tail (vertcbrEe) 



" tail, including fur . 



Palm, to end of middle fore-claw . 

 Length of heel to the point of middle claw 



" fur on the back 



Breadth of tail with hair extended 



Inches. 



Lines 



13 







9 



1 



13 







1 



7 



2 



7 







7 



5 







An opportunity was afforded us, many years since, of observing the 

 habits of this species, in the northern part of the State of New York. 

 A seat under the shadow of a rock near a stream of water, was for 

 several successive summers our favourite resort for retirement and read- 

 ing. In the immediate vicinity were several large trees, in which were a 

 number of holes, from which at almost every hour of the day were seen 

 issuing this species of Black Squirrel. There seemed to be a dozen of 

 them ; they were all of the same glossy black colour, and although the 

 Northern gray squirrel and its black variety were not rare in that neigh- 

 bourhood, during a period of five or six years we never discovered any 

 other than the present species in that locality ; and after the lapse of 

 twenty years, a specimen (from which our description was in part 

 drawn up,) was procured in that identical spot, and sent to us. 



This species possesses all the sprightliness of the Northern gray squir- 

 rel, evidently preferring valleys and swamps to drier and more elevated 

 situations. We observed that one of their favourite trees, to which 

 they retreated on hearing the slightest noise, was a large white-pine 

 (Pinus strobus) in the immediate vicinity. We were surprised at some- 

 times seeing a red squirrel, {Sciurus Hudsonius,) which had also given a 

 preference to this tree, pursuing a Black Squirrel, threatening and 

 scolding it vociferously, till the latter was obliged to make its retreat. 

 When the Squirrels approached the stream, which ran within a few feet 

 of our seat, they often stopped to drink, when, instead of lapping the water 

 like the dog and cat, they protruded their mouths a considerable distance 

 into the stream, and drank greedily ; they would afterwards sit upright, 

 supported by the tarsus, and with tail erect, busy themselves for a quar- 



