138 ANIMAL COMPETITORS 



spine, side-stripes of black, white underparts 

 and feet, and tufted ears. It is also found in 

 the mountains of Colorado. 



The squirrel that flies. All squirrels are 

 clever at falling. They often slip at great 

 heights, and when they can not clutch a lower 

 branch will turn in the air, spread out their 

 legs and usually alight without harm. The 

 skin is loose, and is pulled far out when the 

 legs are widely stretched; and in one sort the 

 side fold is so ample as to form a regular para- 

 chute, enabling the animal to make long slides 

 through the air; it becomes, in fact, a living 

 aeroplane. This is the flying-squirrel, the 

 prettiest fourfoot in the American woods. 



There are two species. One dwells in north- 

 ern Canada, measuring 14 inches in length, 

 and is cinnamon-brown above (sooty in winter), 

 with a black ring around the eye, and the fur 

 of the whitish underparts gray near the roots. 

 A smaller variety occurs in the St. Lawrence 

 Valley. The other species is the common one 

 of the eastern and southern half of the Union, 

 which is only about 9.5 inches in length. Its 

 fur is dense and exquisitely soft, with the tail 



