101 



The Squirrels aB a group are arboreal ; they nest in trees, eat the fruits 

 and buds of trees, and rarely go to the ground except for food. They 

 have a light and graceful but muscular form; their nails are strong and 

 sharp ; they climb and leap with the greatest ease, aided by their large 

 and bushy tails, which support and steer them while in the air. The 

 fore feet are prehensile, the Squirrel seizing and holding its food with 

 its bands, standing on the hind feet while eating. Except the Flying 

 Squirrels, they are diurnal, keeping in the trees at night, and usually 

 for a few hours in the middle of the day. The fur is nearly valueless ; 

 the flesh properly cooked is excellent food. As a group they are timid, 

 readily domesticated, active in confinement, becoming agreeable and in- 

 telligent pets. Their main food is nuts, although they take insects at 

 times, and are often so fond of the cereal grains as to be a nuisance to 

 farmers. Indeed in 1749 Pennsylvania paid 840,000 from the public 

 treasury in premiums for the destruction of Squirrels. Prom the nature 

 of their retreats, and natural activity, they evade the attacks of rapacious 

 animals. Preying birds, reptiles. Wild Cats, and Martens at times cap- 

 ture the young, and rarely the old. Man is their worst enemy, although 

 some species are most abundant in the pioneer settlements. 



Kby to the Gent, ha of Sciurid^. 



" A densely furred membrane along tin; sides between anterior and iwsterior limbs; 

 tail depressed, flattened, densely lurred; perman^t molars 5-5 above. 



SOIUROPTBEU 



' * Sides without membrane specially modified. 



t No cheek pouches ; tail bushy, at least as long as body ; ears long ; no black 



stripei along the back.. . ScruBUS. 



1 1 Cheek pouches present. 



t Back with three to five distinct black stripes ; tall shorter than body, not 

 bushy ; cheek pouches well developed. .... Tamias. 

 1 1 Not as above ; body rather slender, squirrel like ; cheek pouches well de- 

 veloped ; claw of thumb rudimentary or wanting. Spebmophilus, 

 t 1 1 Body large, thick-set, depressed ; cheek pouches shallow ; thumb rudimen- 

 tary, armed with a small flat nail, not a claw ; soles naked. 



Akctojits. 



G-ENus SciUROPrEEUs. P. Cuvier. 



Etymology: Greek, Skiouros, a Squirrel; Pteron, a wing. 



Sciurus, Linn., (in part) and of early authors generally. 



Pteromys, G. Cuvier (in part), and most recent authors. 



Sciuropterus, F. Cuvier, Ann. du Mus., x, 1825, 126, pi. x. (Type, Sci- 

 urus volans, Linn.) 



Generic Characters. — Skull short, broad, highly arched, in general form, 

 a miniature of Sciurus hvdsonius, but the supra-orbital notch deeper, 



