478 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 



they leaped to the ground. On August 19, 1906, while riding along 

 a road west of the lake a squeaking sound attracted attention to 

 the base of a small scrub oak at the roadside. On examining the 

 place four young Flying Squirrels were discovered. They were 

 quite small and wholly naked. A storm had probably blown them 

 from their nest which was a large, globular affair, made of fibrous 

 material, situated in a crotch of the tree. While we were only a 

 few feet away, one of the parent squirrels, presumably the mother, 

 came down the tree and, taking the young in her mouth, carried 

 them, one at a time, back to the nest. 



On April 16, 1890, one of us found a nest containing two young 

 Flying Squirrels, south of Terre Haute. The nest was in a wood- 

 pecker's hole about 20 feet from the ground in a maple. Upon 

 striking the tree the mother squirrel came out of the hole and flew 

 to another tree near-by, where she remained watching. Breaking 

 the snag at the hole the two young were removed and placed on the 

 ground. After a little time the old squirrel flew back to the snag 

 and seemed much disturbed by the changed appearance of things. 

 She looked all about and, finally discovering the young on the 

 ground, she came down, and taking one in her mouth, carried it 

 to the top of the snag from which she then flew with the young in 

 her mouth to another tree about 30 feet away. She ran up that 

 tree to a height of about 50 feet where she found a knot-hole in 

 which she placed the little one. In a moment she reappeared and 

 flew back to the snag for the other. In the meantime I had sta- 

 tioned myself near the young. After several advances and re- 

 treats she finally came and seized the young in her mouth when 

 I caught her in my hand. When released she returned to the knot- 

 hole with the young squirrel. These dates (April 16 and August 

 19) , are of interest in showing so wide a range in the breeding sea- 

 son of the Flying Squirrel. 



On December 16, 1890, a family of six Flying Squirrels was 

 found by Mr. J. M. Beck near Burlington. They were all full- 

 grown. On Thanksgiving day, several years ago, Prof. U. 0. Cox, 

 then of Farmland, Indiana, found 15 Flying Squirrels in a small 

 rotten stump a little higher than a man's head. 



It is remarkable the number of Flying Squirrels that can be 

 discovered in any wood by knocking on the old dead snags or trees, 

 particularly in the spring. We have found them in old oaks, 

 beeches, maples, ash, willows, sycamores and hickories, as well as 

 in various old buildings. They seem to breed chiefly early in the 

 spring, about sugar-making time. A second or third litter may 

 be produced later in the season. 



