G L I R E S. 



51 



(Pimis Lamhertii, Douglas), which produces a cone about fifteen 

 inches long and eighteen in circumference. The gum or resin which 

 exudes where this tree has been wounded, is sweet, tasting like manna, 

 which it also resembles in appearance and in its gentle purgative 

 qualities. The fruit of this jjine furnishes food for the natives, as 

 well as to the subject of this description, which is one of the largest 

 of the American Squirrels. 



" This species was found by our party wherever we saw the 

 above-mentioned pine. It digs holes in the ground, to which it re- 

 treats when pursued or shot at, although it is able to climb with great 

 facility. In this respect it greatly resembles our common ground 

 squirrel [Tamias Lysteri, Ray), but does not so habitually live on the 

 ground, being most frequently seen in the pine trees." 



Dr. Heermann's specimens, now in the Museum of the Philadelphia 

 Academy, are rather smaller than those in the collection of the Expe- 

 dition, but are evidently the same specifically. We entirely coincide 

 in the suspicion expressed by Messrs. Audubon and Bachman, in 

 Quadrupeds of North America, III, p. 342, that this species may be 

 Sciurus Clarkii, H. Smith, as above cited. 



5. Family HYSTRICID^.— The Porcupines. 

 1. Genus HYSTRIX, Llmi. Syst. Nat. I, p. 76 (1766). 

 1. Hystrix dors ATA, Linn. — The North American Porcupine. 



Ej/strix dorsaia, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, p. 76 (1766). 



Hystrix pllfmis, RiCHARDSON, Faun. Bor. Am. Mamm. p. 214 (1829). 



Hijstrix hudsonius, AucT. 



Aud. and Bach. Quad, of N. A. Plate XXXVI; oct. ed. I, Plate 

 XXXVI. 



The North American Porcupine does not appear to have been 

 observed by the naturalists of the Expedition, but according to Mr. 

 Peale its quills were obtained in Oregon. 



Mr. Peale observes with reference to this species : 



" The ' quills' of this species of porcupine were obtained from some 



