Liberia ^ 



true flying squirrels, which are a parallel development. These 

 Anomalures are found right across Equatorial Africa, from 

 Zanzibar to the West Coast ; but they are perhaps most 

 developed in West Africa. They are rather large animals, about 

 the size of cats, and differ from the real flying squirrels in the 

 greater elaboration of their parachute membrane. This membrane 

 is supported by a rod of tiny cartilage, which arises from the 

 elbow joint instead of from the wrist (as in the true flying 

 squirrels). There is, however, no expansion of the membrane 

 between the neck and the inner surface of the arm (as in the 

 flying squirrels). The tail is long, and rather bushy for three- 

 quarters of its length ; but that half of the tail which is nearest 

 to the body is naked on the under-side, and is also armed 

 underneath by about five rows of overlapping, sharp-edged 

 scales. These scales assist the animal in " swarming up " a 

 tree trunk or branch. The feet are armed with very strong, 

 curved, sharp claws, which enable the Anomalure to adhere 

 closely to any rough surface. This creature is justly described 

 by Mr. G. L. Bates as the most arboreal of existing mammals. 

 It can leap easily from tree to tree, sailing or skimming through 

 the air, but on the ground it is perfectly helpless. When 

 climbing up a tree it moves like a caterpillar, humping up the 

 hindquarters and getting much leverage and purchase out of 

 the scales on the under-surface of the tail-base. 



3Qttikofer relates that these Anomalures make a twittering 

 noise at night, thus betraying their presence to the native hunter. 

 They are absolutely silent during the day, and most frequently 

 retire inside hollow trees. If remaining outside they are closely 

 pressed and spread out over the surface of a branch or tree 

 trunk. Thus they are almost indistinguishable in appearance 

 and colour, even to the sharp eyes of the natives, looking as 

 they do very much like an excrescence or bulging of the bark. 



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