378 
VEIiTEBRATA. 
The Cat-Squirrel, S. cinereus, is smaller than the fox-squirrel, yet larger than the gray squir- 
rel, being a trifle over a foot long, with a tail about an inch shorter. It varies in color from light 
gray to nearly black; the prevailing colors are, however, gray, orange, and nearly black. Its 
form is peculiarly stout; the fur is somewhat woolly; the tail broad and flat. Its habits resemble 
those of other squirrels, though it moves with less activity; it is fat in autumn, and its flesh is more 
valued than any other species. It is found sparsely in the tall aged forests of the Middle States. 
Douglass' Squirrel, S. Doufflassii, resembles the chickaree, being, however, one-quarter 
larger, that is, somewhat over nine inches in length, with a tail six inches, including the fur. Its 
color is dark brown above and butf beneath. It abounds along the banks of the Columbia River, 
and lays up abundance of acorns and pine-cones as food for winter, during which time it is impris- 
oned in its nest. 
The Red-Bellied Squirrel, S./erruginiventris, is a trifle smaller than the Carolina gray squir- 
rel, being nearly nine inches long, with a tail ten inches, including the fur. Its color is light gray 
above, though brown on the shoulders; beneath, it is a bright russet. It is a native of California, 
but its peculiar habits are little known. 
Richardson's Columbia Squirrel, S. Michardsonii, is a beautiful little animal, six and a quar- 
ter inches long, with a rather short tail. Its color is a rusty gray above, and whitish beneath. 
It frequents the pine-trees in the high Rocky Mountains west of the great chain, and feeds upon 
the buds of the cones, which are large, white, and nutritious, and are esteemed good food by the 
Indians. It has a loud, jarring chatter, and frequently comes down from the trees nearly to the 
foot to reconnoiter a passenger, and if it disapproves, gives him a fierce scolding. 
The Downy Squirrel, ^S'. lanuginosus^ is a trifle stouter than the chickaree, being nearly 
eight inches long, with a tail six inches. It is a beautiful creature, its fur being thick, soft and 
downy, superior in this respect to any other species. It is light chestnut-brown above, silver- 
gray on the sides, and pure white beneath. Its habits are little know-n; it, however, burrows in 
the earth, and appears to approach the spermophiles in its characteristics. It is found in the 
northwestern parts of North America, from Oregon to the Russian settlements. 
The AVeasel-like Squirrel, S. mustelinus, is thirteen inches long, with a tail thirteen inches; 
its color is glossy black; its body is long and slender; it inhabits the pine-forests of California, 
and feeds on the cones; it hides itself with great cunning and alertness in the thick evergreen 
foliage, and hence is rarely caught. Its young, like those of all other squirrels, are born blind, 
but of its other traits of character and habits we have no particular information. 
Audubon's Squirrel, or Large Louisiana Black Squirrel, S. Auduboni, is eleven and a 
half inches long, with a tail of the same length. The fur is harsh, but glossy, black above, and 
brownish beneath. It frequents high grounds, and displays the usual vivacity of the genus. It 
is found in Louisiana, and is sometimes brought to the market of New Orleans. 
Colonel Abert's Squirrel, S. Aberti, is thirteen inches long, tail eleven inches; the general 
color is dark gray above and white beneath. It is found in New Mexico. 
The California Gray Squirrel, S. fossor, is twelve and a half inches long, the tail ten 
inches. The body above is light gray; beneath, white. It is a beautiful species, found in the 
pine-woods of California, where it lives on nuts, roving about from one locality to another. It 
lias the habit of running much on the ground, and has a bark similar to that of the gray squirrel, 
which it often exercises on hearing the whistle of the Carolina partridges. 
Fremont's Squirrel, S. Frevionti, is about as large as the chickaree, the tail being shorter 
tban the body; the color is light gray above, and ashy-white below. The body is rather short 
and stout ; the fur long and soft. It is found in the Rocky Mountains. 
Sooty Squirrel, S.fuliginosus, is ten inches long, and the tail eight and a half inches; color, 
black above, tinged with yellowish-brown; below, reddish-brown. It appears, however, to be sub- 
ject to some variations of color. It is found in the swampy regions of Louisiana and Mississippi. 
Collie's Squirrel, S. Collcei, resembles the gray squirrel; it is nearly eleven inches long, with 
a tail nine and a half inches; above, its color is a mixture of brownish-black and yellow; below, 
cream-white. It is found in southern California and the adjacent parts of Mexico. 
The Dusky Squirrel, S. nigrescens^ is a large species, nearly equal to the cat-squirrel, with 
