The common chickaree is not more than twelve 

 inches long. Its fur is short and soft, covering the 

 whole body including the feet. It is yellowish brown 

 above in summer and in winter it is more of a chestnut 

 color. The under side is Vv'hitish with an olive tint on 

 the sides. The head is somewhat blunt and rounded. 

 The ears are large and hairy. The tail is as long as the 

 head and body. 



On the southern red squirrel the tail is longer; 

 there is a noticeable dorsal stripe; and the animal is 

 larger as a wdiole. The little red squirrel is much 

 smaller and the tail has an orange-red fringe on the 

 sides. The fur is an imoortant article of commerce. 



Eastern Flying Squirrel 



Glaucomys volans <volans 



The flying squirrel is so named because of its 

 ability to glide gracefully from heights and land easily 

 on the ground or on the lower limbs of trees. It pos- 

 sesses a peculiar hair-covered membrane of skin on 

 both sides of the body between the front and hind 

 limbs. The skin flap is attached to both limbs as far as 

 the wrist and ankle, and when the animal is ready to 

 "fly" the legs are extended and the membrane spreads 

 like a sail. The creature then soars through the air in 

 a volplaning sort of flight. The strong hind legs enable 

 the animal to "take off" with a force that carries it to 

 a great distance. The tail, which is thin and flat, is 

 turned upwards as the animal alights and thus makes 

 the landing easy. The stretched membrane serves the 

 same purpose as the wings on an airplane. 



In color, the flying squirrel is grayish brown, 

 with a rusty tinge above and underneath it is white. 



-H 122 ><*- 



