THE FLYING-SQUIRREL. 55 



times as many as a dozen squirrels will take up their 

 winter abode in one. When asleep, they appear like 

 little furry balls, so arranged that the tail is made to do 

 duty both as a pillow and coverlet ; the head rests near 

 the base of the tail, which is spread over that side of the 

 body which happens to be uppermost. 



These squirrels have of late availed themselves of 

 conveniences erected by man, which partially replace the 

 heavy growths of timber that have so generally been cut 

 down. They now take up their abode in the attics of 

 houses, if they can find any means of entrance. Once 

 established, they drive the mice away, but they are them- 

 selves so noisy that the change seldom proves desirable. 

 If the locality does not meet with their approbation, they 

 not only ramble noisily wherever they can get, but quar- 

 rel incessantly. In out-buildings, also, I have frequently 

 found them wintering. If the nest is in hay or straw, 

 they nibble out a circular shaft or tunnel leading to it, 

 and carry in an abundant supply of grain, if such can be 

 had. In this regard, they are but little, if any, less de- 

 structive than rats or mice. 



To return to the woods. Flying-squirrels make very 

 large nests of leaves high up in the tallest trees, which 

 are in every particular the same as the leaf-nests of the 

 common gray squirrel. Some of those that I have ex- 

 amined appeared to be sufficiently compact to withstand 

 the winter storms, and were warm enough to protect the 

 squirrels during the coldest weather. In them, however, 

 there were no stores of nuts and seeds, so either the 

 occupants hibernated the winter through and needed no 

 food, or they had magazines near by, to which they re- 

 sorted during spells of mild weather. 



Flying-squirrels are now, in consequence of the gen- 

 eral destruction of the heavier growths of timber, not 



