MAMMALS OF AMERICA 



their movements, so far as I could ever detect, 

 any decided indication of that sociability charac- 

 teristic of the Ground Squirrels, or Chipmunks. 

 Each, on the contrary, jumps, runs, flies, solely 

 on his own account, associated together indeed, 

 but never acting in concert. Their several 

 squeaky cries, too, are quite as frequent when 

 they are alone as when associated with their fel- 

 lows." 



If one really wishes to know the Flying Squir- 

 rel, the best plan is to go into a large grove of 

 maples, beeches, and chestnuts on a still moon- 

 light evening in early autumn, find a comfortable 

 seat and remain quiet. If it so happens that one 

 does not see a Flying Squirrel, one will be amply 

 repaid, for other night-loving animals are 

 abroad, and they are as interesting as those seen 

 by day. One must be patient, look, and listen ! 

 The night hawk is already on the wing, and the 

 bat has taken the place of the chimney swift. 

 Then comes a sound like that of a nut dropping 

 from a tree. A slight rustle among the leaves 

 is heard overhead, as a shadowy form glides 

 through the air, and alights upon the bole of a 

 tree ; another soon follows and alights at nearly 

 the same place and hastens after the first. It is 

 quite common for three of four Flying Squirrels 

 to start from the same or neighboring trees, and 

 at times there will be various lines of them 

 crossing and recrossing one another. 



The writer cannot quite agree with Mr. 

 Abbott concerning the play of the Flying Squir- 

 rels. As far as T can judge, frolic and amuse- 

 ment occupy the greater part of the waking 

 hours, and old and young seem to enjoy it alike. 

 Even during the " business hours," when the 

 storehouses must be filled with nuts for winter 



use, the same rollicking spirit holds sway over 

 this Squirrel band. 



The Flying Squirrels, unlike most others, live 

 in communities, but during the winter a dozen 

 or even more may occupy the same cavity in a 

 hollow tree. Even in the storing of food for 

 winter, several may unite in gathering a general 

 supply. The storehouse may be in the same 

 cavity as the living quarters, or in a separate one 

 in the same tree, while it is occasionally in a 

 tree some little distance away. The food stored 

 consists of nuts and seeds of various kinds ; but 

 in season, buds and fruits are much enjoyed. 



\\'ood-choppers very often find the store- 

 houses of the Flying Squirrels. One man took 

 six quarts of beechnuts from a cavity in a large 

 maple tree in the month of January, and from the 

 same tree counted eight escaping Flying Squir- 

 rels. In this instance the Squirrels and nuts 

 were found in separate cavities. 



Flying Squirrels make large nests of leaves in 

 tall trees, which are similar to those of the Gray 

 .Squirrel. These nests are sufficiently compact 

 to withstand the storms of winter, and warm 

 enough to protect the .Scpiirrels during cold 

 weather. I have never known these nests to 

 contain food for winter use. It may be that they 

 are used principally as summer homes. 



The Flying Squirrel during the day avoids the 

 light, its large eyes, like those of the owl, being 

 better adajjted to darkness, and so one may get 

 the idea that it is a dull and uninteresting pet', 

 crawling into your sleeve or pocket and seeking 

 any dark place of concealment. \Mien asleep it 

 is so rolled up as to appear like a ball of fur, 

 the head resting near the base of the tail, which 

 is spread over the body, doing duty as pillow 

 and coverlet. S. A. Lottridge. 



GREAT PLAINS GROUND SQUIRREL 

 Citellus elegans { Komicott) 



Other Names. — Great Plains Spermophile. Wyoming 

 Spermopliile. 



General Description. — The Great Plains Ground 

 .Sciuirrel may be taken as characteristic of a very large 

 group of Ground Squirrels found all over western 

 North America. It is of rather small size. Head 

 blunt; ears broad, rounded, of moderate height; white 

 eye ring; tail fairly bushy, nearly half length of head 

 and body ; body elongate but not slender ; legs short ; 

 general color brown above; below dull yellowish-white. 



Dental Formula. — Incisors, ^^; Canines, ^^^ ; Pre- 

 molars. ^^ : Molars, ^ , — 22. 

 1— I ' 3—3 



Pelage. — .Adults : Sexes identical, seasonal varia- 

 tion not conspicuous. Upper parts brown, mottled 

 indistinctly, black tips to hairs; top of head like back 

 but without black tips to hairs; sides, flanks and upper 

 surface of feet pale fulvous; under parts a paler shade 

 of fulvous; chin whitish; whitis'i buff ring about eye; 

 tail above, mixed brown and black, tip black edged 



