SOOTY SQUIRREL. 
241 
Inches. Lines. 
Length of tail (including fur), - 
8 6 
1 8 
2 1 
palm to point of middle fore-claw, - 
heel, to point of longest nail, - 
Height of ear posteriorly, - 
Length of fur on the back, 
4 
7 
HABITS. 
This dusky looking species is found in low swampy situations, and is 
said to be very abundant in favourable localities. 
During high freshets, when the swamps are overflowed to the height of 
several feet, they are very active among the trees, leaping from branch to 
branch, indifferent about the waters beneath. They feed chiefly on pecan 
nuts, and are deemed by the French inhabitants of Louisiana to be the 
most savoury of all the Squirrels. 
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 
We have heard of this species as existing only in Louisiana and Missis- 
sippi, and as being chiefly confined to the swamps. 
GENERAL REMARKS. 
We are under the impression that this Squirrel is subject to considerable 
variations in colour. We obtained, through the kindness of Col. Wade 
Hampton, a number of specimens of the different Squirrels existing along 
the shores of the Mississippi, and among them we found several examples 
of this species. Some of them were of much lighter colours than the one 
which we described. In Louisiana, they are often so dark in colour, as to 
be called by the French inhabitants le petit noir. 
The specimen from which our original description was made, was pro- 
cured near New Orleans, on the 24th of March, 1837. It agrees in many 
particulars with a skin deposited in the late museum of Mr. Peale at 
Philadelphia, which, with other specimens in that collection, is now proba- 
bly lost for ever. Dr. Harlan referred to it as S. riifiventer, but it did not 
agree with Desmarest’s description of that species, as we ascertained by 
comparing it. On examining the description Dr. Harlan gave of the 
specimen to which he referred, we ascertained that instead of describing it 
himself, he had, with slight variations, translated Desmarest’s description. 
VOL. III. — 31 
