266 
CALIFORNIA GREY SQUIRREL. 
It is also almost a sure conclusion that it is found on the ridges of the 
mountains, as far south as the nut-bearing trees invite it, and it may thus 
reach quite a low latitude. 
GENERAL REMARKS. 
The pine nuts referred to in the account of the habits of this squirrel, as 
a favourite article of food for it, are placed on the cones of the Sugar Pine , 
(Pinus Lambertii, Douglas), so called from the gum which exudes from it, 
where the bark has been wounded, becomes hard and white, and is quite 
sweet to the taste. 
The nuts are formed on the cones, sometimes twenty or thirty on one 
cone. The Indians pound and crack them. They are very good eating, 
and taste not unlike a hickory nut. The shell is thin, but hard, the nut 
covered with a skin like the peach kernel, &c. 
We hesitated somewhat as to adopting the name ( Sciurus Fossor ) given 
to this species by Mr. Titian R. Peale, as his volume on the “ Mammalia 
and Ornithology ” of the United States Exploring Expedition, &c., has 
been suppressed ; but as about one hundred copies, it appears, weie ciicu- 
lated, we think it is only justice to Mr. Peale to quote his work, which, 
as it was printed in 1848, gives his name the priority over Sciurus Heer- 
manni, under which this species was described by our friend Dr. L» 
Conte, September, 1852. 
Its flesh is good eating, and it is sufficiently abundant in some parts of 
California to make it worth the hunting for market. 
