$Unique_ID{QAD00014}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Genus Tamias.--Illiger}
$Subject{Genus Tamias. --Illiger; Tamias; }
$Journal{Quadrupeds of America:  Volume I}
$Volume{Vol. 1:64-65}
$Genus{Tamias}
$Species{}
$Common_Name{}
$Log{}

       Portions copyright (c) Creative Multimedia Corp., 1990-91, 1992

                       A U D U B O N ' S   M A M M A L S

                    By John James Audubon, F. R. S., &c. &c.

                                      AND

                     The Rev. John Bachman, D. D., &c. &c.

                  -------------------------------------------
                                    VOL.  I.
                        --------------------------------


                            GENUS TAMIAS.--ILLIGER.

                              2         0        5-5
                     Incisive -; Canine -; Molar --- = 22.
                              2         0        4-4

     Upper incisors, smooth; lower ones, compressed and sharp; molars, with
short, tuberculous crowns.
     Nose, pointed; lip, cloven; ears, round, short, not tufted or fringed;
cheek-pouches, ample.
     Tail, shorter than the body, hairy, sub-distichous, somewhat tapering.
Mammae, exposed; feet, distinct, ambulatory; fore-feet, four toed, with a minute
blunt nail in place of a thumb; hind-feet five toed; claws, hooked.
     This genus differs from SCIURUS in several important particulars.  The
various species that have been discovered have all the same characteristics, and
strongly resemble each other in form, in their peculiar markings and in their
habits.  In shape they differ from the true squirrels and approach to the
spermophiles; they have a sharp convex nose adapted to digging in the earth;
they have longer heads, and their ears are placed farther back than those of
squirrels; they have a more slender body and shorter extremities.  Their ears
are rounded, without any tufts on the borders or behind them.  They have
cheek-pouches, of which all squirrels are destitute; their tails are roundish,
narrow, seldom turned up, and only sub-distichous.
     The species belonging to this genus are of small size, and are all
longitudinally striped on the back and sides.
     Their notes are very peculiar; they emit a chipping clucking sound
differing very widely from the quacking chattering cry of the squirrels.
     They do not mount trees unless driven to them from necessity, but dig
burrows, and spend their nights and the season of winter under ground.
     They are, however, more closely related to the squirrels than to the
spermophiles.  The third toe from the inner side is slightly the longest, as in
the former; whilst in the latter, the second is longest, as in the marmots.  The
genus TAMIAS is therefore nearly allied to the squirrels, whilst the
spermophiles approach the marmots.
     Authentic species of the genus SCIURUS are already very numerous, and as we
have now a number of species, to which constant additions are making by the
explorers of our Western regions, which by their cheek-pouches, their markings,
and habits, can be advantageously separated from that genus, no doubt
naturalists will arrange them in the genus TAMIAS.
     When this genus was first established by ILLIGER, but a single species was
satisfactorily known, and naturalists were unwilling to separate it from the
squirrels, to which it bears so strong an affinity; but we are now, however,
acquainted with six species, and doubt not that a few more years of
investigation will add considerably to this number.  We have consequently
adopted the genus TAMIAS of that author.
     The word Tamias is derived from the Greek [tamias,] (tamias,) a keeper of
stores--in reference to its cheek-pouches.
     One species of this genus exists in the Northern portions of the Eastern
continent; four in North, and one in South, America.  We also possess an
undescribed species, the habitat of which is at present unknown to us.