i18 
GENUS SPERMoPHILUS. FE. Cuvier. 
Etymology: Sperma—seed ; Philos—lover. 
Spermophilus, F. Cuvier, Mém. du Mus., 1x, 1822, 293; Dents des Mamm., 
1825, 161, 255, pl. iv (Type “ Mus ertellus, Linn.).” 
Spermophila, Richardson, Parry’s Second Voyage, App., 1825, 313 
(= Spermophilus, F. Cuvier.) 
Spermatophilus, Wagler, Syst. Avium, 1830, 22. 
Citillus, Lichtenstein, Darst. neuer oder wenig bekannt., Sauget., 
1827-34, pl. xxxi, fig. 2. 
Colobotis, Brandt, Bull. Classe Physico-math. de l’Acad. Imp. des Sci. de 
St. Petersb., 13, 1844, 360. 
Otocolobus, Brandt, 1844 (—Colebotis). 
Olospermophilus, Brandt, 1344. 
Generic Characters—Skull very vartable in form; postorbital pro- 
cesses generally triangular, strong, and directed downwards; plane of 
malar turned outward; position of ante-orbital foramen more forward 
than in Tamias ; upper premolars always two, the first variable in size, 
generally much larger than in Seiurus or Tamias ; grinding-tecth vari- 
able in strength and size; cheek-pouches well developed; body slender 
or thick set; tail long, moderate, or short, cylindrical or flattened ; ears 
large, medium, or rudimentary, never tufted; nail of pollex generally 
undeveloped; pelage and color patterns variable. 
The above diagnosis includes three sections, in their extreme phases 
as wide asunder as are most allied modern genera, but well connected 
through various intermediate specific forms. One of these sections pro- 
visionally recognized by Mr. Allen as sub-genus Otospermophilus Brandt 
(emend.), including S. grammurus and S. annulatus? of Colorado and 
Mexico, tends strongly toward Sciurus. Sub-genus Colobotis, same author, 
includes S. richardsont, 8S. empetra, S. mollis, S. spilosoma, and S. obsoletus, with 
their several varieties, all northern and north-western forms; this group 
deviates in the direction of Cynomys. 
The third sub-genus Ictidomys, as characterized by Mr, Allen, inclines 
toward Tamias; having the ears small, sometimes rudimentary, tail vari- 
able, skull long and narrow, first upper premolar usually small, and the 
dentition not heavy ; it includes S. tereticaudus of southern California, S. 
mexicanus from Texas into Mexico, S. tridecemlineatus of the prairie region 
north to the Saskatchewan, and lastly S. franklini, whose habitat has 
heretofore been given from northern Illinois and Missouri northward to 
latitude 64°; this animal is certainly found, however, in the prairie 
region of northern Indiana, and the following note from Mr. Langdon 
