

PARACHUTING ANIMALS 



In a number of arboreal backboned animals folds of skin are 

 present that serve as parachuting arrangements, which facilitate 

 progress from one branch or tree to another, and are useful in the 

 search for food as well as in retreat from enemies. Three Para- 

 chuting Mammals are represented in {he plate: i, the Malayan 

 Flying-Squirrel (Pteromys petaurista\ native to south-east Asia; 

 2, the Colugo or Flying-" Lemur " (Galeopithecus volans\ which is 

 also from the Malay region; and 3, the little Sugar-" Squirrel" or 

 Flying Phalanger (Petaurus sciureus) of eastern Australia. All 

 these have a certain amount of steering power. 



At 4 is depicted a Parachuting Reptile, the beautiful little Fly- 

 ing-Dragon (Draco volans) of the Malay region, in which there is 

 a movable fold on either side of the body, supported by the ribs. 



In the Common Flying-Fish (Exoccstits volitans] the pectoral 

 fins are immensely large, and serve both as parachutes and kites. 

 The peculiar shape of the tail gives an upward bias to the body in 

 the water, greatly helping the fish to slide up, as it were, into the 

 air. 



