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$Unique_ID{QAD00023}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Hudson's Bay Squirrel, Chickaree, Red-squirrel (Red Squirrel
"Chickaree")}
$Subject{Hudson's Bay Squirrel, Chickaree, Red-squirrel (Red Squirrel
"Chickaree"); Sciurus; Hudsonius; audio}
$Journal{Quadrupeds of North America: Volume III}
$Volume{Vol. 3:125-131}
$Genus{Sciurus}
$Species{Hudsonius}
$Common_Name{Hudson's Bay Squirrel, Chickaree, Red-squirrel}
$Log{
Plate XIV*00023P1.scf,34570026.aud
Audio*34570026.aud
Genus*00009.txt}
(C) (P) Library of Natural Sounds 1990-91, 1992,
All rights reserved.
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.
--------------------------------
SCIURUS HUDSONIUS.--Pennant.
[Tamiasciurus Hudsonicus]
HUDSON'S BAY SQUIRREL.--CHICKAREE.--RED-SQUIRREL.
[Red Squirrel "Chickaree"]
PLATE XIV.--MALE AND FEMALE.
S. cauda corpore breviore, auriculis apice sub-barbatis; corpora supra
subrufo, subtus albo; S. migratorii tertia parte minore.
CHARACTERS.
A third smaller than the Northern Gray-Squirrel, (Sc. migratorius;) tail
shorter than the body; ears, slightly tufted; colour, reddish above, white
beneath.
SYNONYMES.
ECUREUIL COMMUN, OU AROUPEN, Sagard Theodat, Canada, p. 746.
COMMON SQUIRREL, Forster, Phil. Trans., vol. lxii., P. 378, 1772.
SCIURUS VULGARIS, var. E. Erxleben, Syst., An. 1777.
SCIURUS HUDSONICUS, Pallas, Glir., p. 377.
SCIURUS HUDSONICUS, Gmel., Linn.,--1788.
HUDSON'S BAY SQUIRREL, Penn. Arctic Zool., vol. i., p. 116.
HUDSON'S BAY SQUIRREL, Hist. Quadrupeds, vol. ii., p. 147.
COMMON SQUIRREL, Hearnes' Journey, p. 385.
RED SQUIRREL, Warden's Hist: U.S., vol. i., p. 330.
RED BARKING SQUIRREL, Schoolcraft's Journal, p. 273.
SCIURUS HUDSONICUS, Sabine, Franklin's Journey, p. 663.
SCIURUS HUDSONICUS, Godman, vol. ii., p. 138.
SCIURUS HUDSONICUS, Fischer, Mam., P. 349.
ECUREUIL DE LA BAIE D'HUDSON, F. Cuvier, Hist. Nat. des Mammiferes.
SCIURUS HUDSONICUS, Bach. Trans. Zool. Soc., London, 1839.
SCIURUS HUDSONICUS, Dekay, Nat. Hist. New-York, 1842.
DESCRIPTION.
On examining the teeth of this species, we do not find the small and
usually deciduous molar that exists in all the other species of Sciurus with
which we are acquainted; it is possible, however, that it may be found in very
young animals. It will be perceived, on referring to the dental formula of the
genus, (which we have given at p. 38,) [Genus Sciurus] that the molars are set
down as
4--4 5--5
---- or ----;
4--4 4--4
and we will for the present assign the former arrangement to this species.
Forehead, very slightly arched; nose, somewhat obtuse; eyes, of moderate size;
ears, broad, rounded, clothed on both sides with short hairs, not distinctly
tufted like those of the European Squirrel, (Sc. vulgaris,) although the hairs,
when the animal has its winter pelage, project beyond the margins, and resemble
tufts; whiskers, a little longer than the head; the body presents the appearance
of lightness and agility; the tail is somewhat depressed, and Linear, not as
bushy as in most other squirrels, but capable of a distichous arrangement;
limbs, robust; claws, compressed, sharp, slightly hooked; third toe a little,
the longest; palms, and under surface of the toes, naked; soles of hind-feet,
clothed with hair, except on the tubercles at the roots of the toes.
COLOUR.
This species exhibits some shades of difference in colour, and we have
sometimes, although very rarely, found a specimen that might be regarded as a
variety. General colour, deep reddish-brown on the whole of the upper surface;
short fur beneath, plumbeous, mixed with so large. a quantity of longer hairs,
that the, colour of the fur does not show on the surface. These long hairs are
dark at the roots, then brown, and are slightly tipped with black. In most
specimens there is an orange hue on the outer surface of the fore-legs, running
up to the shoulder; this colour is also frequently visible on the upper surface
of the hind-feet, and behind the ears. Whiskers, black; tail, on the upper
surface, deep reddish-brown; the hair on the sides may be so arranged as to
present a line of black near the outer borders; on the under side it has two or
three annulations of light-brown and black; lips, chin, throat, inside of legs,
and belly, white; in some specimens the hairs on these parts of the body are
plumbeous at the roots, and white to the tips, giving it a light, grayish white
appearance. There is in a great many specimens a black line, running from near
the shoulders along the sides to within an inch of the thighs.
DIMENSIONS.
Recent specimen. Inches. Lines.
Length from nose to root of tail. . . . . . . 8 0
Tail (vertebrae) . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 7
Tail to end of hair . . . . . . . . . . . 6 5
HABITS.
The genus Sciurus is illustrated in North America by a greater variety of
species than any other among the various genera we shall have the pleasure of
introducing to our readers:--Permit us to dwell for a moment on the subject, and
to relate the following anecdote:
When we began the publication in Great Britain of the "Birds of America,"
we were encouraged by the approbation of many excellent friends, and by the more
essential, although less heartfelt favours, bestowed by those noblemen and
gentlemen who kindly subscribed to the work, and without whose aid, it is
frankly acknowledged, it could never have been completed. Among those whom we
then had the honour of calling patrons, we found as many varieties of character
as among the beautiful feathered inhabitants of our woods, lakes, and
sea-shores, themselves; and had we time just now to spare, we might undertake to
describe some of them. We published as the first plate of the first number of
"The Birds of America," the Wild Turkey Cock, and gave the Turkey Hen and Young,
as the first plate of the second number. We need not stop to enumerate the
other species of birds that completed those two numbers; but judge of our
surprise, on being told gravely, by a certain noble subscriber, that, "as the
work was to consist of Turkeys only, he begged to be, allowed to discontinue his
subscription!"
Now, kind reader, we are obliged to follow Nature in the works of infinite
wisdom, which we humbly attempt to portray; and although you should find that
more Squirrels inhabit our forests than you expected or desired to be figured in
this work, we assure you it would give us pleasure to discover a new species at
any time! We are not, however, wanting in a due knowledge of the sympathy and
kindness that exist among our patrons toward us, and we hope, you will find this
really beautiful genus as interesting as any other among the quadrupeds we
desire to place before you.
The Chickaree, or Hudson's Bay Squirrel, is the most common species of this
numerous genus around New-York and throughout the Eastern States. It is a
graceful, lively animal, and were you to walk with us through the woods in the
neighbourhood of our great commercial metropolis, where boys and sportsmen (?)
for years past have been hunting in every direction,