NEW SPECIES OF AMERICAN QUADRUPEDS. 65 
and Clarke, who deposited a specimen in the Phi- 
ladelphia Museum, where it still exists. I have 
compared it with a specimen brought by Mr. Town- 
send, and find them identical. Richardson, who 
appears not to have seen it, supposes it to be a mere 
variety of the Sciurus hudsonicus. On the con- 
liary, Mr. Townsend says in his notes: “It is evi- 
dently a distinct species ; its habits are very differ- 
ent from those of the Sciurus hudsonicus. It fre- 
quents the pine trees in the high range of the 
Rocky Mountains, west of the great chain, feeding 
upon the seeds contained in the cones. These seeds 
are large and white, and contain a good deal of 
nutriment. The Indians eat a great quantity of 
them, and esteem them good. The note of this 
squirrel is a loud, jarring chatter, very different 
from the voice of S. hudsonicus. It is not at all 
shy, frequently coming down to the foot of the tree 
to reconnoitre the passenger, and scolding at him 
vociferously. It is, I think, a scarce species.” 
d he difference between these two species can be 
detected at a glance, by comparing the specimens. 
I he present species, in addition to its being about a 
fourth smaller, (the size of the Sciurus ( Tamias ) 
lysten,) has less of the reddish brown on the upper 
surface, and may be always distinguished from the 
other by the blackness of its tail at its extremity. 
The body of this most diminutive of all the 
known species of genuine squirrel in North Ame- 
r ^?, a ’ s l lor t, and does not present that appearance 
ol lightness and agility which distinguishes the S. 
hudsonicus. Head large, less elongated, and nose a 
VOL. VIII. 1839. f) 
