254 U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY-GENERAL REPORT. 
pale rusty yellow. Similar differences in size occurred, although an average diminution in size 
was discernible in the specimens from more southern localities. I have, therefore, had no 
other alternative than to combine all in one, and to seek for a name among the earlier descrip¬ 
tions of authors. This I found in the journal of Peter Custis, an emigrant from Accomac 
county, Virginia, to Louisiana, published in Barton’s Philadelphia Medical and Surgical 
Journal, as quoted above. The description fortunately is sufficiently explicit to admit of no 
misunderstanding. The author was familiar with the fox squirrel of the eastern shore of 
Virginia, ( S . cinereus, hut by him called S. vuljpinus,) and to it he compared his Louisiana 
species, giving the same size for both, hut referring to the deeper red color and not bearded 
ears. 1 A numerous series of specimens from Red river, sent by Mr. James Fairey, and almost 
from Mr. Custis’ locality, furnishes the most satisfactory proof of the identity of this species 
with the fox squirrels of the Missouri river. These were called, successively, S. macroura, 
macroureus, magnicaudatus, and sayi. More northern ones were described as S. rubicaudatus 
while the smaller size, from near New Orleans, and resembling those from Red river, were called 
S. subauratus. 
It is quite possible that the squirrel I described, from Devil’s river, Texas, in 1855, under 
the name of Sciurus Umitis, may he a very small variety of the present species, although its 
geographical distribution is in its favor, as well as much smaller size, and different color. 
Further collections, from western Texas, will he necessary to settle the question. 
The Sciurus lewisii, of Hamilton Smith, described from a specimen in Peale’s museum, 
brought by Lewis & Clark, in some respects resembles the present species, especially in the 
ochraceous belly and feet. The tail is described as thick, cylindrical, and bushy, and ringed 
with seven black and six white hands, with a white tip. This ringed character may have been 
produced by a twisting of the tail. I do not, however, understand the absence of any red in 
the tail. Unless, however, the specimen in Peale’s museum belonged to this species, I cannot 
refer it to any known North American species ; and, at the same time, it is quite improbable 
that a squirrel of these characteristics could exist at the present day without having been 
detected by some of the numerous recent explorations in the west. 
I have very little doubt that the Sciurus auduboni , of Bachman, is the dusky variety of the 
S. ludovicianus, as a skin from Red river, sent by Mr. Fairey, in company with a large number 
of fox squirrels, agrees exactly with his description. The S. occidentalis, though originally 
described as from the Pacific coast, has recently (Aud. & Bach. N. Am. Quad. Ill, 354) been 
given as a synonym, of S. auduboni by its author, and, consequently, of S. ludovicianus. 
Mr. Robert Kennicott, of West Northfield, Illinois, one of the most observing and accurate 
naturalists in the west, after a careful study of many fox squirrels from and in different locali¬ 
ties, both living and dead, has come to the conclusion that the S. sayi, subauratus, and rubicau¬ 
datus, of Audubon and Bachman, are all of the same species, and has described them as such 
in his paper on the Rodents of Illinois, in the Agricultural Report of the Patent Office for 
1856, illustrated by an excellent figure taken from life. 
The Sciurus rufiventer, of Desmarest, if really from New Orleans, in all probability belongs 
to this same species, although it has been referred to the S. fuliginosus of Bachman. The 
dimensions, as stated, (6^ inches,) are, in all probability, an error of the original description. 
1 The description is as follows : “ Size of S. vutpinus .—Body and upper parts of tail, dark gray ; belly, inside of legs, and 
thighs, and under part of tail, reddish brown ; ears not bearded ; tail longer than the body, and very broad.” Red river 
of Louisiana. 
