708 RODENTIA. 



it becomes of a fine grayish-slate color. These graceful, fascinating 

 Rodents live in couples. 



The JELERANG, Sciurus Javanicus, is one of the handsomest of the 

 Squirrels. It is a native of Java, part of India, and Cochin China. Its 

 total length is about two feet, the tail and body being equal to each 

 other in measurement. In color it is one of the most variable of animals, 

 so that it has been more than once described under different names. The 

 usual color of the Jelerang is a dark brownish-black on the back, the top 

 of the head yellowish, and the sides and abdomen golden yellow. 



The Hare Squirrel, Sciurus leporenus (Plate LVT), is one of the 

 most beautiful of our native squirrels, being remarkable for its splendid 

 tail, with its rich white border. The color of the body resembles that 

 of the common English hare, becoming somewhat lighter on the sides. 

 It is a native of California, and smaller than the Gray Squirrel, to which 

 it bears a great similarity. 



The Black Squirrel, Sciurus niger (Plate LVI), is a native of many 

 parts of North America. The whole of its fur, with very slight and 

 variable exceptions, is of a deep-black color ; even the abdomen, which in 

 most animals is lighter than the back, displays the same inky hue. The 

 total length of the animal is about two feet ten inches, including a* tail 

 thirteen inches long. It is vanishing before the inroads of the Gray 

 Squirrel, and seems to be a timid creature, flying in terror from the anger 

 of the Red Squirrel. When undisturbed, it is an active and lively animal, 

 and is remarkable for a curious habit of suddenly ceasing its play, and 

 running to some water to refresh itself. After drinking, which it does 

 by putting its nose and mouth in the water, it carefully washes its face. 



The Grey Squirrel, Sciurus Carolinianus, has, on the back, for three 

 fourths of its length, fur of a dark lead color, succeeded by a slight indi- 

 cation of black edges with yellowish-brown in some of the hairs, giving 

 it on the surface a dark grayish-yellow tint. The feet are light-gray, 

 three-fourths of the tail is a yellowish-brown, the remainder black, edged 

 with white, the lower surface of the body white. It differs in many 

 respects from the Northern Gray Squirrel ; its bark is more shrill, and 

 instead of mounting the tree when alarmed, it plays around the trunk. 

 It is less wild than the Northern species, and haunts swampy places, or 

 trees overhanging rivers, and is constantly found in the cypress swamps. 

 It is abundant in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas, but does not 

 extend northward. 



