I discovered this animal, which was sent me from America, under the name of the orange-coloured squirrel, to be the same as that which Fernandes calls quauhicollotquapachli cozticotequallin: but as these Mexican words are very difficult to pronounce, I have abridged the last to coquallin ([fig. 169.]). It is not a squirrel, although it greatly resembles that animal both in the figure and bushiness of the tail, for it not only differs by many external characters, but also by its disposition and manners.
The coquallin is much larger than the squirrel; in duplam fere crescit magnitudinem, says Fernandes. It is a pretty animal, and very remarkable for its colours; its belly is of a fine yellow, and its head as well as body variegated with white, black, brown and orange. It covers its back with its tail like the squirrel; but has not, like that animal, small brushes of hair at the tips of the ears: he never climbs up trees, but dwells in holes under the roots of trees, like the ground squirrel, where it brings forth its young; it likewise stores up corn and fruit to feed on during winter; it is a jealous and cunning animal, and so wild that it is impossible to be tamed.
The coquallin is only found in the southern parts of America. The white and orange-coloured squirrels of the East Indies are much smaller, and their colours are uniform. Those are true squirrels which dwell and produce their young on trees; but the coquallin, and the American ground squirrel, burrow under ground like rabbits, and have no other affinity to squirrels than their resemblance in form.
Engraved for Barr’s Buffon
FIG. 170. Hamster. FIG. 171. Bobak.