266 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1949 
on the form of miniature gliders (pl. 4, fig. 1). When approaching a 
landing, which they generally try to make on a tree or other object 
not on the ground, they swing slightly upward to check the glide and 
bring their long arms and legs forward as shock absorbers (pl. 4, 
fig. 2). Instantly upon alighting they dart around to the other side 
of the tree or limb, which is probably a provision to escape any 
enemy that might be following them. 
Before flying squirrels take off on a glide they almost invariably 
sway the head and body as far as possible first to one side then the 
other, repeated several times, and often raise as high as they can 
stand and crouch as low as possible. 'Thisis probably a sort of range 
finding by triangulation. 
They feed very largely on nuts and acorns which they gather and 
store in their nests and probably in almost any location in the forest 
in which they can find a cavity that is large enough to hold a nut 
securely. I assume this from the fact that my pets regularly place 
nuts at many places about the house other than in their nest box. 
They particularly selected the top of the window, the medicine cabinet 
in the bathroom, my hand, my pockets, inside my collar, and even 
the depression between my arm and body when I have my arm close 
to my body. When placing nuts, they have an interesting habit of 
trying to make them secure wherever they are leaving them. They 
force them into the crevice or onto the surface where they are leaving 
them, then tap them three or four times with their front teeth. This 
suggests that they probably similarly try to wedge the nuts in cracks 
in the bark or slight depressions on the tops of tree limbs in the wild. 
In addition to nuts and seeds, they eat some fruits, berries, and 
insects. My pets eat mealworms, grasshoppers, and small bits of 
meat in moderation. 
“Glauckies” (short for their scientific name) are very hesitant 
about going down to the ground, feeling much more at home leaping 
about in the trees, gliding from place to place; however, they will go 
down on occasion. When they do so, they are plainly not at home 
and run with the arms and legs extended so as to hold the body as 
high above the ground as possible, the gliding membrane being 
pulled upward close to the body so that a very peculiar effect is 
produced. 
Instead of sleeping soundly and ignoring disturbances in their 
neighborhood, as do the hammies and many other burrowing creatures 
who know they are safest in their dens, the flying squirrels sleep 
lightly and at the least disturbance in their neighborhood they peer 
out or dash away. 
“Glauckies’”’ are born in families of two to six pink, helpless little 
ones, with the gliding membranes plainly evident. They develop 
