. The quadrupeds of North America [microform]. Mammals; Rodentia; Mammifères; Rongeurs. 220 m COMMON FLYING-SQUIRREL tnc earth, their impetus, aided by their expanded skin, enables them tu ascend in a curved line and alight upon the tree aimed at, about one-third n« high from the ground as they were on the tree they left. On reaching a tree in this m-«nner they run iiriskly up its trunk as high as they wish to give them a start for another; in this way they will travel in a few minutes, from tree to tree or olyect to object, a quarter of a mile or more. There is nothing resembling flying in th
. The quadrupeds of North America [microform]. Mammals; Rodentia; Mammifères; Rongeurs. 220 m COMMON FLYING-SQUIRREL tnc earth, their impetus, aided by their expanded skin, enables them tu ascend in a curved line and alight upon the tree aimed at, about one-third n« high from the ground as they were on the tree they left. On reaching a tree in this m-«nner they run iiriskly up its trunk as high as they wish to give them a start for another; in this way they will travel in a few minutes, from tree to tree or olyect to object, a quarter of a mile or more. There is nothing resembling flying in their movements. "They are gregarious, living together in considerable communities, and do not object to the company of other and even quite different ani- mals. For example, I once assisted in taking down an old martin-box, wJiich had been for a great number of years on the top of a venerable' locust tree near my house, and which had some eight or ten apartments. As the box fell to the ground we were surprised to see great numbers of Flying-Squirrels, screech-owls, and leather-winged bats running from it. We caught several of each, and one of the Flying-Squirrels wa^s kept as a pet in a cage for six months. The various apartments of the box were stored with hickory-nuts, chesnuts, acorns, corn, &c., intended ibr the vyinter supply of food. There must have been as many as twenty Flying. Squirrels in the box, as many bats, and we know there were six screech owls. The crevices of the house were inhabited by the Squirrels. The docility of the one we kept as a pet was remarkable; although he was never lively and playful in the day-time, he would permit himself to be handled and spread out at the pleasure of any one. We frequently took him from the cage, laid him on the table or on one hand, and ex- posed the extension of his skin, smoothed his fur, put him in our pocket or bosom, &c., he pretending all (he time to be asleep. " It was a common occurrence t
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Keywords: ., bookauthorau, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1840, booksubjectmammals
