THE GRAY SQUIRREL. 
SciURUS CINEREUS. LiNN. 
The Squirrels of America are by no means equal to 
those of Eastern Asia in size or in vividness of colour- 
ing, although they are for the most part larger than 
the common European species. Several of them are 
unquestionably distinct; while others, described as well 
by American as by European writers, are regarded by 
many zoologists as mere varieties of the Gray Squirrel, 
the most common species of the United States. On 
this subject we shall hereafter have occasion to offer 
some observations: for the present we confine ourselves 
to the Gray Squirrel itself, of which two unquestionable 
specimens exist among the numerous individuals in the 
Society's Collection. 
These specimens are of an ashy gray on the upper 
surface and sides, each hair being marked by alternate 
