WILD LIFE OF ORCHARD AND FIELD 



brane when the fore -legs are spread apart as in 

 flying. The tail probably serves both as para- 

 chute and rudder, since it is thin and flat, but of 

 such a close, silky texture as to catch the wind 

 like a sail/' 



''I should imagine/' says Mr. William E. Cram, 

 from whose excellent writings I have quoted the 

 paragraph preceding this, "that from their noc- 

 turnal habits these squirrels would fall frequent 

 victims to the different kinds of owls, although 

 I cannot recall ever having found any evidence of 

 this having been the case, either about the nests 

 or in the stomachs of such owls as I have exam- 

 ined. But in all probability they are frequently 

 snapped up by them, as well as by foxes, weasels, 

 and the like, just as they are occasionally by do- 

 mestic cats/' 



