'Sciurus niger' definitions:

Definition of 'Sciurus niger'

From: WordNet
noun
Exceptionally large arboreal squirrel of eastern United States [syn: fox squirrel, eastern fox squirrel, Sciurus niger]

Definition of 'Sciurus niger'

From: GCIDE
  • Squirrel \Squir"rel\ (skw[~e]r"r[e^]l or skw[i^]r"-; 277), n. [OE. squirel, OF. esquirel, escurel, F. ['e]cureuil, LL. squirelus, squirolus, scuriolus, dim. of L. sciurus, Gr. si`oyros; skia` shade + o'yra` tail. Cf. Shine, v. i.]
  • 1. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of small rodents belonging to the genus Sciurus and several allied genera of the family Sciuridae. Squirrels generally have a bushy tail, large erect ears, and strong hind legs. They are commonly arboreal in their habits, but many species live in burrows. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: Among the common North American squirrels are the gray squirrel (Sciurus Carolinensis) and its black variety; the fox, or cat, squirrel (Sciurus cinereus, or Sciurus niger) which is a large species, and variable in color, the southern variety being frequently black, while the northern and western varieties are usually gray or rusty brown; the red squirrel (see Chickaree); the striped, or chipping, squirrel (see Chipmunk); and the California gray squirrel (Sciurus fossor). Several other species inhabit Mexico and Central America. The common European species (Sciurus vulgaris) has a long tuft of hair on each ear. The so-called Australian squirrels are marsupials. See Petaurist, and Phalanger. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. One of the small rollers of a carding machine which work with the large cylinder. [1913 Webster]
  • Barking squirrel (Zool.), the prairie dog.
  • Federation squirrel (Zool.), the striped gopher. See Gopher, 2.
  • Flying squirrel (Zool.). See Flying squirrel, in the Vocabulary.
  • Java squirrel. (Zool.). See Jelerang.
  • Squirrel corn (Bot.), a North American herb ({Dicentra Canadensis}) bearing little yellow tubers.
  • Squirrel cup (Bot.), the blossom of the Hepatica triloba, a low perennial herb with cup-shaped flowers varying from purplish blue to pink or even white. It is one of the earliest flowers of spring.
  • Squirrel fish. (Zool.) (a) A sea bass (Serranus fascicularis) of the Southern United States. (b) The sailor's choice (Diplodus rhomboides). (c) The redmouth, or grunt. (d) A market fish of Bermuda (Holocentrum Ascensione).
  • Squirrel grass (Bot.), a pestiferous grass ({Hordeum murinum}) related to barley. In California the stiffly awned spikelets work into the wool of sheep, and into the throat, flesh, and eyes of animals, sometimes even producing death.
  • Squirrel hake (Zool.), a common American hake ({Phycis tenuis}); -- called also white hake.
  • Squirrel hawk (Zool.), any rough-legged hawk; especially, the California species Archibuteo ferrugineus.
  • Squirrel monkey. (Zool.) (a) Any one of several species of small, soft-haired South American monkeys of the genus Callithrix. They are noted for their graceful form and agility. See Teetee. (b) A marmoset.
  • Squirrel petaurus (Zool.), a flying phalanger of Australia. See Phalanger, Petaurist, and Flying phalanger under Flying.
  • Squirrel shrew (Zool.), any one of several species of East Indian and Asiatic insectivores of the genus Tupaia. They are allied to the shrews, but have a bushy tail, like that of a squirrel.
  • Squirrel-tail grass (Bot.), a grass (Hordeum jubatum) found in salt marshes and along the Great Lakes, having a dense spike beset with long awns. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Sciurus niger'

From: GCIDE
  • Fox \Fox\ (f[o^]ks), n.; pl. Foxes. [AS. fox; akin to D. vos, G. fuchs, OHG. fuhs, foha, Goth. fa['u]h[=o], Icel. f[=o]a fox, fox fraud; of unknown origin, cf. Skr. puccha tail. Cf. Vixen.]
  • 1. (Zool.) A carnivorous animal of the genus Vulpes, family Canid[ae], of many species. The European fox ({V. vulgaris} or V. vulpes), the American red fox ({V. fulvus}), the American gray fox (V. Virginianus), and the arctic, white, or blue, fox (V. lagopus) are well-known species. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: The black or silver-gray fox is a variety of the American red fox, producing a fur of great value; the cross-gray and woods-gray foxes are other varieties of the same species, of less value. The common foxes of Europe and America are very similar; both are celebrated for their craftiness. They feed on wild birds, poultry, and various small animals. [1913 Webster]
  • Subtle as the fox for prey. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. (Zool.) The European dragonet. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. (Zool.) The fox shark or thrasher shark; -- called also sea fox. See Thrasher shark, under Shark. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. A sly, cunning fellow. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster]
  • We call a crafty and cruel man a fox. --Beattie. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. (Naut.) Rope yarn twisted together, and rubbed with tar; -- used for seizings or mats. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. A sword; -- so called from the stamp of a fox on the blade, or perhaps of a wolf taken for a fox. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
  • Thou diest on point of fox. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 7. pl. (Ethnol.) A tribe of Indians which, with the Sacs, formerly occupied the region about Green Bay, Wisconsin; -- called also Outagamies. [1913 Webster]
  • Fox and geese. (a) A boy's game, in which one boy tries to catch others as they run one goal to another. (b) A game with sixteen checkers, or some substitute for them, one of which is called the fox, and the rest the geese; the fox, whose first position is in the middle of the board, endeavors to break through the line of the geese, and the geese to pen up the fox.
  • Fox bat (Zool.), a large fruit bat of the genus Pteropus, of many species, inhabiting Asia, Africa, and the East Indies, esp. P. medius of India. Some of the species are more than four feet across the outspread wings. See {Fruit bat}.
  • Fox bolt, a bolt having a split end to receive a fox wedge.
  • Fox brush (Zool.), the tail of a fox.
  • Fox evil, a disease in which the hair falls off; alopecy.
  • Fox grape (Bot.), the name of two species of American grapes. The northern fox grape (Vitis Labrusca) is the origin of the varieties called Isabella, Concord, Hartford, etc., and the southern fox grape ({Vitis vulpina}) has produced the Scuppernong, and probably the Catawba.
  • Fox hunter. (a) One who pursues foxes with hounds. (b) A horse ridden in a fox chase.
  • Fox shark (Zool.), the thrasher shark. See {Thrasher shark}, under Thrasher.
  • Fox sleep, pretended sleep.
  • Fox sparrow (Zool.), a large American sparrow ({Passerella iliaca}); -- so called on account of its reddish color.
  • Fox squirrel (Zool.), a large North American squirrel (Sciurus niger, or S. cinereus). In the Southern States the black variety prevails; farther north the fulvous and gray variety, called the cat squirrel, is more common.
  • Fox terrier (Zool.), one of a peculiar breed of terriers, used in hunting to drive foxes from their holes, and for other purposes. There are rough- and smooth-haired varieties.
  • Fox trot, a pace like that which is adopted for a few steps, by a horse, when passing from a walk into a trot, or a trot into a walk.
  • Fox wedge (Mach. & Carpentry), a wedge for expanding the split end of a bolt, cotter, dowel, tenon, or other piece, to fasten the end in a hole or mortise and prevent withdrawal. The wedge abuts on the bottom of the hole and the piece is driven down upon it. Fastening by fox wedges is called foxtail wedging.
  • Fox wolf (Zool.), one of several South American wild dogs, belonging to the genus Canis. They have long, bushy tails like a fox. [1913 Webster]