304 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



and feet, from the body and belly downwards, are of a light brick reel .; 

 the nose is of a darker shade of the same colour; the upper part of 

 the head, neck and body is of a curious brown gray, with a slight tinge 

 of brick red : the longer hairs of these parts are of a reddish white 

 colour at their extremities, and falling together give this animal a 

 speckled appearance. These animals form in large companies, like 

 those on the Missouri, occupying with their burrows sometimes two 

 hundred acres oi land : the burrows are separate, and each possesses, 

 perhaps, ten or twelve of these inhabitants. There is a little mound 

 in front of the hole, formed of the earth thrown out of the burrow, and 

 frequently there are three or four distinct holes, forming one burrow, 

 with these entrances around the base of these little mounds. These 

 mounds, sometimes about two feet in height, and four in diameter, 

 are occupied as watch-towers by the inhabitants of these little com- 

 munities. The Squirrels, one or more, are irregularly distributed on 

 the tract they thus occupy, at the distance of ten, twenty, or some- 

 times from thirty to forty yards. When any one approaches, they 

 make a shrill whistling sound, somewhat resembling tweet, tweet, 

 tweet: the signal for their party to take the alarm, and to retire into 

 their intrenchments. They feed upon the roots of grass 8cc" 



North America abounds in Squirrels of various kinds; and there 

 are doubtless several species which have not yet been noticed by 

 Zoologists. We have lately discovered that a nondescript of this tribe, 

 inhabits the eastern part of the State of New Jersey, near Tuckerton ; 

 as yet, we know not how far it extends. It has a characteristic mark 

 in its greatly bearded ears; and, contrary to the practice of our com- 

 mon Squirrels, it is said not to dwell in hollow trees, but in nests, 

 even during the severity of the winter. From this last mentioned cir- 

 cumstance, we have given it the specific denomination of hicmalis. 



Our Catalogue, it will be perceived, is enriched with the names of 

 those animals of this genus, which were discovered by Lewis and 

 Clark, the stuffed skins of which have been deposited in Peale's Mu- 

 seum. The history of their journey gives an account of some others ; 

 but as this notice is a mere record of their existence, we are not 

 enabled to determine whether or no they are nondescripts. 



The Squirrels of the United States live chiefly upon forest nuts, of 

 which the shellbark appears to be a favourite. The Ground Squirrel,* 

 which is the most numerous of the genus, burrows in the earth, and 

 lays up magazines of provisions for the winter, during the severity of 

 which it is seldom seen. The rest chiefly dwell in hollow trees, where 

 their provisions are deposited for the season of scarcity. The large 

 Squirrels generally form their nests of leaves, in the forks of trees, 

 where they bring forth their young. In those parts of the country 

 where these last mentioned are numerous, they commit great depre- 

 dations upon the fields of Indian Corn, attacking it while it is in its 

 milky state. In our western forests, partial migrations of these ani- 

 mals sometimes take place ; and a few years since many thousands 

 of them were drowned in attempting to cross the river Ohio. 



The Flying Squirrel of the United States, is perhaps the most gene- 

 rally beloved of the whole tribe. It is a beautiful little animal, easily 

 tamed, and becomes very familiar. It is likewise less mischievous 

 than the others. It is of a tender nature, loves warmth, and will creep 



* Called by Pennant the Striped Dormouse. Arctic Zoology, vol. i s p. 146, 

 edition 1792. 



