5O+ THE ASSAPAN, 
through the air on the parachute-like expansion which extends along its sides. This 
animal is a native of India, where it is tolerably common. 
It is rather a large species, as its total length is nearly three feet, the tail occupying 
about one foot eight inches, measured to the extremity of the long hairs with which it is 
so thickly clothed. The general colour of this animal is a eae chestnut, deepening into 
brown on the back, and becoming more ruddy on the sides. The little pointed ears are 
covered with short and soft fur of a delicate brown, and the tail is heavily clad with 
bushy hairs, greyish-black on the basal portions of that member, and sooty-black 
towards the extremity. The parachute membrane is delicately thin, scarcely thicker than 
ordinary writing-paper, when it is stretched to its utmost, and is covered with hair on both 
its surfaces, the fur of the upper side being chestnut, and that of the lower surface nearly 
white. A stripe of greyish-black hairs marks the edge of the membrane, and the entire 
abdomen of the animal, together with the throat and the breast, is cov ered with beautiful 
silvery greyish-white fur. 
THERE are many other Flying Squirrels, 
EN « belonging to different countries, but presenting 
very similar characteristics of form and character. 
They are all playful and lively animals, and engage 
in the most gamesome sports as they chase each 
other about the branches of the tree on which 
they have taken up their residence. Among these 
creatures we may record the names of the ASSAPAN, 
or Flying Squirrel of America, the POLATOUCHE of 
Siberia, and the Rasoo of India. 
Tue true Squirrels possess no parachute flying 
inembrane, as do the Flying Squirrels, nor are 
they furnished with cheek-pouches, as is the case 
with the Ground Squirrels of America. 
One of the handsomest of the Squirrels is the 
JELERANG, or JAVAN SQUIRREL, a native of Java, 
part of India, and Cochin China. Its total length 
is about two feet, the tail and body being equal to 
each other in measurement. In colour it is one of 
the most variable of animals, so that it has been 
more than once described under different names. 
In the British Museum are several specimens of 
this animal, and all of them present many varieties 
in point of colour, while some are so very unlike 
each other that most persons would consider them 
to be separate species. Some specimens of this 
animal are pale yellow, while others are deep 
brown; in some the colour is tolerably uniform, 
while in others it is variously pied; but in all 
there seems to be a tolerably decided contrast 
between a darker and a lighter tint. From this 
circumstance it has sometimes been termed Sevirus 
bicolor, or the two-coloured Squirrel. 
In general, the darker hue prevails on the back 
and upper portions of the body, and the lighter 
ENS SANE SHERI IRIS IAN tint is abruptly separated from it by a decided line 
of demarcation. The usual colour of the Jelerang 
is a dark brownish-black on the back, the top of the head yellowish, and the sides and 
abdomen golden yellow. 
The Jelerang is rather common in the countries which it inhabits, and as it is very 
retiring in its habits, and dreads the proximity of mankind, it is not so mischievous a 
