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 
