FAUNA AMERICANA. 1 87 



The terminations of the superior incisors cunei- 

 form, with their anterior surfaces smooth ; the two 

 inferior laterally compressed and sharp. 



The crowns of the molars are furnished with 

 blunt tubercles. 



Head slightly rounded ; snout prolonged ; ears 

 rounded ; eyes large. 



Anterior feet with four elongated toes, armed 

 with elongated and compressed claws; a rudi- 

 mentary thumb furnished with an obtuse nail ; 

 the posterior feet disposed for climbing, with five 

 clawed toes, very much separated; skin of the 

 flanks very extensive, clothed with hair above and 

 below, joining the anterior with the posterior 

 members, and forming a species of parachute ; an 

 osseous appendage to the feet, destined to sustain 

 this membrane of the flanks. 



Tail long, hairy, sometimes distichous; hair 

 generally soft. 



Habit. Nocturnal, feeding oti dry fruits and 

 nuts like the squirrels, to which they are nearly 

 related in their habits. 



Inhabit North America and Asia, Southern Asia, 

 and the Indian Archipelago. 



Species. 



1. Pteromys volucella, American Flying Squir- 

 rel. Sciuriis volucella, Pallas, Nov. Quad, e Glir. 

 Ordin. p. 3.^3. Gmel. Syst Nat. Schreb. tab. 222. 



