SCIURUS SUB-AURATUS.--Bach.
                    [Sciurus Niger subauratus (subspecies)]

               ORANGE-BELLIED SQUIRREL.--GOLDEN-BELLIED SQUIRREL.
                                 [Fox Squirrel]

                         PLATE LVIII.--MALE AND FEMALE


     S. Magnitudine, S. migratorium superaens, S. Carolinensi cedens; supra
cinereus flavido-undutus, subtus saturate aureus, cauda corpore longiore.

                                CHARACTERS.

     Size intermediate between the Northern gray and the little Carolina
squirrel; tail longer than the body; colour, above, gray, with a wash of yellow;
beneath, deep golden yellow.


                                   SYNONYME.

     GOLDEN-BELLIED SQUIRREL, Sciurus Sub-auratus.--Bachman, Mon.  Genus
       Sciurus, p. 12.


                                  DESCRIPTION.

     In the two specimens now before us, which are very similar in size and
markings, there is no appearance of the small anterior upper molar found in
several other species of this genus.  We conclude, therefore, that it either
does not exist at all, or drops out at a very early period; and accordingly set
down this species as having only twenty teeth, viz.:

                             2         0-0        4-4
                    Incisive -; Canine ---; Molar --- = 20.
                             2         0-0        4-4

     The upper incisors are of moderate size; their colour is deep orange brown;
the lower incisors are a little paler; head, of medium size ears short and
pointed, clothed with hair on both surfaces.  The body seems more formed for
sprightliness and agility than that of the small Carolina Squirrel, and in this
respect comes nearest to the northern gray squirrel.  The tail is long, and
nearly as broad as that of the last named species.


                                    COLOUR.

     The whole upper surface gray, with a distinct yellow wash.  The hairs which
give this outward appearance are grayish slate colour at their base, then
broadly annulated with yellowish, then black, and near the tips annulated with
yellowish-white; sides of the face and neck, the whole of the inner side of the
limbs, feet, and the under parts, deep golden yellow; on the cheeks and sides of
the neck, however, the hairs are obscurely annulated with black and whitish; the
ears are well clothed on both surfaces with tolerably long hair of the same deep
golden hue as the sides of the face; hairs of the feet mostly blackish at the
root, some obscurely tipped with black; hairs of the tail, black at the root,
and the remaining portion bright rusty yellow; each hair annulated with black
three times; the under surface of the tail is chiefly bright rusty yellow;
whiskers, longer than the head, black.


                                  DIMENSIONS.

                                                              Inches   Lines.

     Length of head and body,.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     10      6
     Length of tail, (vertebrae,)  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .      9      2
     Length including fur,   .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     12      0
     Length of palm to end of middle fore-claw,.  .  .  .  .      1      7
     Length of heel to point of middle nail,.  .  .  .  .  .      2      7
     Length of fur on the back, .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .      0      7
     Height of ear posteriorly, .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .      0      5
     Breadth of tail with hair extended, .  .  .  .  .  .  .      8      6
                               Weight 1 1/4 lbs.


                                    HABITS.

     During the winter season the city of New-Orleans is thronged by natives of
almost every land, and the Levee (which is an embankment extending along the
margin of the river) presents a scene so unlike anything American, that as we
walk along its smooth surface we may imagine ourselves in some twenty different
countries, as our eyes fall upon many a strange costume, whose wearer has come
from afar, and is, like ourselves, perchance, intent on seeing the curiosities
of this Salmagundi city.  Here a Spanish gentleman from Cuba, or a Mexican, next
a pirate or thief, perhaps, from the same countries; all Europe is here
represented, and the languages of many parts of the world can be heard whilst
walking even half a mile; the descendants of Africa are here metamorphosed into
French folks, and the gay bandanna that turbans the heads of the Coloured women,
is always adjusted with good taste, and is their favourite head-dress.
     But the most interesting figures are the few straggling Choctaw and
Chickasaw Indians, who bring a variety of game to the markets, and in their
blankets, red flannel leggings, moccasins and bead finery, form a sort of dirty
picturesque feature in the motley scene, and generally attract the artist's eye:
many of these Indians have well formed legs and bodies, and their half-covered
shoulders display a strength and symmetry indicating almost a perfect
development of the manly form--their sinews and muscles being as large as is
compatible with activity and grace.  Whilst conversing with one of these
remnants of a once numerous race, it was our good fortune to see for the first
time the singular and beautiful little Orange-bellied Squirrel which the Indian
hunter had brought with him along with other animals for sale, having procured
it in the recesses of the forest on the borders of an extensive swamp.
     Rarely indeed does the Orange-bellied Squirrel leave its solitary haunts
and quit the cypress or sweet-gum shades, except to feed upon pecannuts,
berries, persimmons, or other delicacies growing in the uplands; and it does not
hoard up the small acorn from the swamp-oak until late in the autumn, knowing
that the mild winters of Louisiana are seldom cold enough to prevent it from
catching an unlucky beetle from time to time during the middle of the day, or
interfere with searches for food among the dry leaves and decaying vegetable
substances in the woods.  Besides, early in the year the red-maple buds will
afford a treat to which this little squirrel turns with as much eagerness as the
horse that has been kept all winter upon hay and corn, dashes into a fine tell
of grass in the month of May.
     The hole inhabited by the present species is generally in some tar. tree
growing in the swamp, and perhaps sixty or one hundred yards from the dry land,
and the animal passes to it from tree to tree, on along some fallen monarch of
the woods, over the shallow water, keeping his large eye bent upon the
surrounding lands in fear of some enemy; and, in faith, he runs no little risk,
for should the red-shouldered hawk, or the sharped-shinned, dart upon him, he is
an easy prey; or, on a warm day, a snake, called the "water moccasin," curled up
in his way, might swallow him, "tail and all."  But good fun it must be to see
the sportsman following in pursuit, splashing and floundering through the water,
sometimes half-leg deep, and at others only up to the ankles, but stumbling
occasionally, and making the "water fly;" so that when he has a chance to pull
trigger, he is certain to snap both barrels!
     Of the breeding of this species we know nothing, nor can we say more of its
habits, which are yet to be farther investigated.


                           GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

     We have not heard of the occurrence of this species farther north than
Louisiana, and think it probable its range will be found to extend west and
south of that state into Texas, and perhaps Mexico.