SCIUEIDiE. 165 



all included in the Mukid^ ; and the Caviada, Octodontidce, and Hydro- 

 cJuBTtdts, belonging to the HysTRiciDiB. 



The two first families possess clavicles, and have the projecting angle 

 of the lower jaw subquadrate. 



Fam. SoiuRiD^, Squirrels. 



5 5 4 4. 



Quasi-incisors smooth, compressed ; molars usually t— -^ or 7—7 i ena- 

 melled continuously, or complex, and furnished with roots. Feet either 

 all pentadactylous, or the fore-feet with four toes and a thurab-wart or 

 tubercle. Tail typically long, bushy ; clavicles perfect. 



The squirrels form a well marked group of elegant animals, mostly with 

 arboreal habits, and widely distributed both in the old and new world. 

 One group only is quite terrestrial, the marmots. The additional molar 

 of the upper jaw is early deciduous. The most striking feature of the 

 skull of the squirrels is the distmct post-orbital process ; and the palate is 

 larger than in other rodents. The molars are variously tubercled, some with 

 blunt, others with sharp points. Of five well marked generic groups, three 

 occur within our province; one however only as an outlier from the central 

 Asian plateau. 



Gen. SciURUs, Linn. 



2 2 3 3 



Char. — Prsemolars :; — , ; molars ,5 — 5 ; quasi-incisors smooth in front, 

 1 — 1 o — o 



brown or orange colored, the lower ones compressed, acute ; fore-feet with 



only four toes, and a tubercle on the site of the thumb ; claws compressed, 



incurved ; tail very long, bushy, the hairs directed more or less laterally. 



Squirrels have a large head, and prominent eyes, a large body, and moder- 

 ately long limbs. They are mostly quite arboreal in their habits, exceedingly 

 active and lively, feeding on buds, fruit, nuts, and other vegetable sub- 

 stances ; and building a large rude nest of leaves, grass, &c. They hold 

 up their food to their mouth between the two thumb-tubercles. They are 

 found over both continents, most rare in the Neotropical region. 



Tliere are three well marked groups in India, distinguished by size, 

 coloration, and habits. 



1st group. Large squirrels. 



These are squirrels of veiy large size, rich coloration, and more or less 



