RODENTIA-SCIURINAE-SPERMOl’HILUS TOWSENDII. 
327 
This species comes quite near to the Spermophilus guttatus of Asiatic Russia. A typical 
specimen (1450) of the latter species has the spots much more distinct and larger, the 
ground color of the hack very similar to that of S. mexicanus, and with the spots quite similar, 
though larger, more quadrate, and more crowded ; as well as without the distinctly linear 
arrangement of S. mexicanus. Another specimen, (1643,) from the shores of the Caspian, 
however, has the spots much less distinct, and more, as in S. townsendii, owing to their 
yellowish rusty color, and th6 much paler hue of the ground. The tail is also, shorter and 
more cylindrical. In both, however, the tail is shorter than in S. townsendii. 
This species was first described by Richardson as a variety of S. guttatus. According to 
Schinz, an American species first received the name of guttatus , for which reason he calls the 
Siberian animal guttulatus. I am unable to find any description of an American marmot under 
the name of A. guttatus prior to the date of 1827, when Temminck gave it to the Siberian 
■animal. Schinz refers to the Rocky Mountains as the habitat of his S. guttatus , which agrees 
very well with S. townsendii.. He quotes Temminck, Mon. Mamm. I, p. xxvii, and Cuv. and 
Geoff. Mammif. Ill, Lev. 45. 
In the preceding pages I have given all the species of spermophiles that have come under 
my notice, and I have little doubt that they embrace all that are well established as inhabit¬ 
ants of America, north of Mexico. It will be seen that none are found east of the Mississippi 
river, with the exception of Spermophilus 13 -lineatus, which reaches as far as the eastern portion 
of Michigan, and franklini, which is found in Illinois. Further west they become more 
abundant, and have their greatest development in the region between the Missouri and the 
Rocky Mountains, extending northward to the Arctic ocean, and south into Mexico. This is 
especially the home of the species with very short ears, rather short tail, and soles usually 
more or less hairy. In the Rocky Mountains we first find the Spermophiles with long ears and 
long full tail, and having much the appearance and habits of the squirrels; these extend west, 
becoming more and more numerous in individuals to the Pacific coast. A single species occurs 
in eastern Mexico, south of the Rio Grande, ( S. couchii.) 
The remaining species, described as North American by various authors, are as follows: 
Spermophilus annulatus, Aud. and Bach. 
Spermophilus annulatus, Aud. and Bach. J. A. N. Sc. Phil. VIII, ii, 1842, 319.— Ib. N. Am. Quad. II, 1851, 213; 
p. lxxix. 
The animal described under this name by Audubon and Bachman was purchased by me 
from a dealer many years ago and presented to Mr. Audubon. It was supposed to have been 
brought from the west, and, as such, was described by the above authors. I have, however, 
little doubt that it is an African species of Sciurus, and, in fact, it resembles closely, if it be 
not identical with, the Sciurus rufobracliiatus of Fraser, in Zoologia Typica, said by him to be 
closely related to the Sciurus annulatus of western Africa. In any event, it must be eliminated 
from the list of North American spermophiles. 
Spermophilus macrourus, Bennett. Hab. west coast of Mexico. 
Spermophilus macrourus, Bennett, Pr. Zool. Soc. Lond. I, 1833, 41. 
Aud. and Bach. N. Am. Quad. Ill, 1853,181 ; pi. cxxxix. 
Wagner, Suppl. Schreb. Ill, 1843, 246. 
Otospermcphilus macrourus, Bkandt, Bull. Phys. Math. Acad. St. Pet. II, 1844, 380. 
