134 ANIMAL COMPETITORS 



southward they become yellowish or rusty, and 

 in some localities a black variety is prevalent. 

 Well-grown specimens of this species are about 

 18 inches long, including the splendid feather 

 of the tail. West of the Alleghenies, to the 

 border of the Plains, and as far north as South 

 Dakota, lives the northern fox- or cat-squir- 

 rel, which is larger (23.5 to 25'.5 in.), and in 

 general tint foxy red; but the species is ex- 

 tremely variable, one large southern variety 

 being wholly black save the white nose and ears, 

 and a good deal of black and orange are likely 

 to appear on any specimen, north or south. 

 It may be mentioned here that Mexico has 

 among its many species and races of squirrels 

 perhaps the most beautiful of any in America, 

 the red-bellied. "Its upper surface is pale 

 grizzled gray, and its under parts bright rusty 

 red; it inhabits the forests of eastern Mexico, 

 ascending the high mountains to an elevation 

 of 8,000 feet." 



It is only in the Appalachian region that the 

 gray and the fox-squirrels meet. They are 

 much alike in habits, and both have become 

 bold acquaintances of civilized man, and are 



