RODENTIA. MURIDiE. 65 



Specific characters. Fur rusty-brown ; hair grayish at the tips ; 

 face pale bluish-ash ; ears short and broad ; fore feet four-toed, 

 those behind have five ; tail black, somewhat bushy. 



Description. Body thick ; the general color is a rusty brown ; 

 the tail and feet black ; ears rounded, and broad at base, placed 

 high up and far back on the head, provided with a muscular ap- 

 paratus for bringing down the upper portion over the orifice, bor- 

 dered with grayish anteriorly ; tail somewhat bushy at the ex- 

 tremity, and black or very dark-brown ; mystachial bristles black ; 

 the fore feet have only four toes with the rudiment of a fifth ; legs 

 robust and strong ; nails long, curved, sharp, and brown, and 

 fitted for burrowing ; stronger before than behind. 



Observations. This interesting animal is one of the most com- 

 mon in New England. It is vigilant, and though not very active, 

 still it is almost impossible to surprise and take it at a distance 

 from the burrow. It is perfectly cleanly in all its habits, is sus- 

 ceptible of domestication, and becomes a very agreeable pet. 

 It is well known to hybernate. It goes into winter quarters some 

 time in October, unless the weather is quite mild, and the means 

 of subsistence plentiful ; it is then very fat. Its sense of hearing 

 is extremely acute, and hence it is so rarely surprised away from 

 home, as the least noise, when it is collecting the materials for its 

 nest, or feeding, is timely perceived, so that it escapes while the 

 suspicious object is at a distance. 



Genus Sciurus. Lin. The Squirrel. 



Generic characters. Dental system ; incisors § ; canines |=f ; 

 molars f =f ; = 22. Body elongated ; upper lip divided ; pos- 

 terior extremities longer than the anterior ; upper incisive teeth 

 chisel-shaped ; lower pointed ; molars tuberculated ; feet five- 

 toed ; tail long, bushy, with the hairs directed laterally. 

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