446 Life-histories of Northern Animals 



It was a calm evening in early autumn near Philadelphia 

 as the naturalist sat in an ancient grove. About sunset the 

 Flying-squirrels began to appear, until not less than 200 were 

 in sight, sailing and coasting in air from tree to tree, scores at a 

 time crossing and recrossing in all directions, apparently for the 

 joy of flight rather than in an endless game of catch. When it 

 was too dark for further observation the naturalist left them, 

 but the party was still at its height. 



SWIM- Unlike the day Squirrels, this species is apparently a poor 



swimmer. Merriam tells of individuals found drowned in sap 

 buckets even, and so many specimens have been found drowned 

 in cisterns and wells that one is forced to believe that it has 

 bartered its power in the water, and to some extent its activity 

 on land and in the trees, for its very limited mastery of the air. 

 This no doubt accounts in part for the fact that in North 

 America the Flying-squirrel is practically confined to the 

 mainland. 



MER 



