h. H. Wn!e?iT 



Vol. 56, pp. 67-68 June 16, 1943 



PROCEEDINGS 



OF THE 



BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 



A NEW RED SQUIRREL FROM MINNESOTA. 

 BY ARTHUR H. HOWELL. 



This description of a previously unrecognized subspecies 

 of red squirrel was found among the papers of the late 

 Arthur H. Howell. It was prepared by him in connection 

 with his revision of the red squirrels of North America, 

 which was left uncompleted by his untimely death. — 

 Viola S. Schantz. 



Tamiasciurus hudsonicus murii, new subspecies 

 RED RIVER CHICKAREE. 



Type. — Collected at Moorhead, Minnesota, February 11, 1918, by 

 O. J. Murie; adult male, skin and skull. No. 234039, U. S. National 

 Museum (Biological Survey collection); original number 1174 (21595X). 



Range. — The Red River Valley, Minnesota and North Dakota, north 

 in southern Manitoba to Aweme. 



External characters. — Hind foot larger than in loquax; upper parts in 

 winter pelage paler, the red of a paler shade, and sides paler and more 

 grayish (less buffy) ; ear tufts more brownish (less red) ; under parts with 

 more vermiculation. In summer pelage very similar to loquax, but red 

 of tail averaging paler. Compared with pallescens: Upper parts in 

 winter much brighter red — the red color concentrated in the middle line. 

 Compared with hudsonicus: Upper parts in winter paler, the red concen- 

 trated in the middle line; under parts with less vermiculation; tail darker 

 red and with darker buflfy edgings. In summer pelage, upper parts more 

 ochraceous (less olivaceous) ; front legs a deeper shade of ochraceousbuff; 

 tail darker and more reddish above. 



Cranial characters. — Skull sUghtly smaller than that of hudsonicus, and 

 relatively narrower across zygomata; slightly larger than that of loquax; 

 similar in size to that of pallescens. 



Color. — Winter pelage (type): Median portion of upper parts, from 

 crown to rump, between ochraceous tawny and tawny, shaded on each 

 side of middle line with Ught ochraceous buff; sides of head and body 

 smoke gray; feet gray, sUghtly darker than sides; front of face ochraceous 

 buff, mixed with dusky; eye ring dull white; tail above, light tawny, 



14— Peoc. Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. 56, 1943. (67) 



