MAMMALS OF MARYLAND 



77 



Counties. The present center of population appears to be in the vicinity 

 of Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge where it is still common. 

 (See fig. 29.) 



Distinguishing characteristics. — Teeth 1/1, 0/0, 1/1, 3/3, = 20; 

 coloration uniform light grizzled-gray above with a steel blue cast; 

 beUy and feet white; tail with a pronounced black stripe on outer 

 edges. A melanistic form occurs in which the belly and back are 

 blackish. May be readily distinguished from the gray squirrel, which 

 it resembles somewhat in coloration, by its much larger size and 

 reduced dentition. 



Measurements. — Five adults from Dorchester County have external 

 measurements as follows: Total length 579 (560-605) ; tail 273 (263- 

 285); hind foot 77 (73-81). Cranial measurements of four adults 

 from Dorchester County are: Greatest length 68.5 (67.7-69.8) ; zygo- 

 matic breadth 38.8 (37.9-39.8) ; least interorbital breadth 20.8 (19.4r- 

 22.3) ; length of maxillary toothrow 11.9 (11.8-12.0). 



Habitat and habits. — This subspecies prefers mature forests of 

 mixed hardwoods and conifers in which mast-producing trees such 

 as oaks, hickories, and pines are present. It is particularly partial to 

 old-growth loblolly pine forests, many of which, however, have been 

 cut over or burned through forest fires. 



This squirrel spends much time on the ground but generally doesn't 

 stray far from the home roost. It lies close to the body of a tree or 

 limb, seldom leaping from tree to tree as does the gray squirrel. Nests, 

 which serve as home during summer and winter, are placed near 

 the tips of branches in old pines, generally from 30 to 50 feet above 

 the ground. Mating may occur at any time throughout the year, but 

 is most frequent during the latter part of February or early March. 

 Usually, four young comprise a litter and are born in April. 



Fox squirrels feed more on the ground than do gray squirrels. Food 

 consists primarily of acorns, hickory nuts, walnuts, and particularly 

 the seeds of loblolly pine. They seldom, if ever, cause damage to corn 

 or other domestic crops. 



This squirrel has become greatly reduced in numbers and has 

 entirely disappeared from some areas of its former range. One of these 

 areas is the northern portion of the Eastern Shore section; this is the 

 area where this subspecies would be expected to intergrade with 

 Sciurus niger vulpinus^ the form inhabiting the Western Shore of 

 Maryland. 



Specimens examined. — Dorchester County : Airey (near), 1; Black- 

 water Refuge, 1; Bucktown, 1; Cambridge, 9. Kent County: East 

 Neck Island, 3. Eastern Shore (no exact locality), 3. 



Other records and reports (with dates of capture or sighting when 

 available). — Dorchester Coumi.y: Big Blackwater Section, 1932, 



336-897 O— 69 6 



