WESTERN FOX SQUIRREL 



19 



In early days, according tO' the best information obtainable, this 

 species was common in many localities where it is now scarce. 

 Towards the extreme western part of the state the species is re- 

 ported as rare or absent. With the cutting off of the heavily tim- 

 bered areas in many parts of the state the distribution of the flying 

 squirrel has become much more restricted than formerly and its 

 numbers have correspondingly diminished. 



WESTERN FOX SQUIRREL. FOX SQUIRREL. 



Sciurus niger rufiventer (Geoffroy). 



Sciurus rufiventer Geoffroy, Cat. Mamm. Mus. d'Hist. Nat.. 176, 

 1803. 



Description. — ^General color, upper parts tawny brown with 

 darker ])rown intermingled; tail mixed black and inifous, the tips 

 of the hairs tawny or ruf ous ; ears rufous brown; under parts pale 

 rufous or vellowish brown. 



Pig. 2. — Western Fox Squirrels a few days after birth. Photo from life by 

 Frank C. Pellett. From "Our Backdoor Neighbors." 



Measurements. — Total length, 22.00 inches; tail vertebrae, 9.75 

 inches; hind foot, 3.00 inches. 



