Vol. 55, pp. 13-14 May 12, 1942 



PROCEEDINGS 



OF TBE 



BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 



A NEW RED SQUIRREL FROM NORTH DAKOTA.' 

 BY ARTHUR H. HOWELL. 



The examination of a large series of North American chickarees 

 has revealed the existence of the following undescribed sub- 

 species : 



Tamiasciurus hudsonicus pallescens, new subspecies. 



NORTH DAKOTA CHICKAREE. 



Type. — Collected 8 miles east of Upham, McHenry County, North Dakota, 

 January 8, 1936, by C. J. Henry; adult female, skin and skull. No. 261625, 

 U. S. National Museum (Biological Survey's collection) ; original number 

 135 (27532X.) 



Range. — North-central North Dakota, specifically the Souris River 

 Valley in McHenry County, North Dakota, and the Turtle Mountains. 



External characters. — Similar to T. h. dakotensis, but smaller; dorsal area 

 and tail a darker shade of red; sides of head and body paler and more 

 grayish (less buffy), especially in winter pelage; nose and face more grayish, 

 lacking the rich buffy wash of dakotensis; fore and hind feet in winter 

 pelage grayish rather than cinnamon buff; hind feet in summer darker 

 buS; under parts in winter sometimes slightly vermiculated with fuscous. 

 Compared with preblei: Similar in winter pelage, but upper parts and 

 sides averaging paler and less reddish, the red of the back never forming a 

 distinct band; sides of head paler gray; fore and hind feet paler and more 

 buffy (less grayish) ; under parts mainly without vermiculation. In summer 

 pelage upper parts averaging more tawny (less olivaceous), the fore and 

 hind feet darker buff and the tail darker red above. Compared with loquax: 

 Size larger; upper parts and tail in winter much paler, lacking the deep 

 reddish dorsal band of that race; in summer pelage upper parts paler and 

 more ochraceous. 



Cranial characters. — Skull similar to that of preblei, but averaging smaller 

 and relatively narrower across zygomata; much smaller than that of 

 dakotensis; larger than that of loquax. 



1 This description of a hitherto unrecognized subspecies of red squirrel was found by 

 me in arranging the papers of the late Arthur H. Howell. It was prepared by him in con- 

 nection with his revision of the red squirrels of North America which was left uncompleted 

 by his untimely death. — Viola S. Schantz. 



3— PBGC. Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. 55, 1942. (13) 



