284 



ANIMAL MOVEMENT 



It may be interesting to notice that one member of the present 

 family (Aethurus glirinus), native to French Congo, is altogether 

 devoid of parachute folds, although it possesses the distinctive 

 climbing scales. 



African Flying-Squirrels differ sufficiently from their Asiatic 

 and American cousins to make it certain that the parachute folds 



Fig. 823. African Flying-Squirrel (Anomalurus peli}. The small drawing shows the climbing-scales 



at the root of the tail 



have been independently evolved in the two cases. And, on this 

 view, the variation in detail already described is only what might 

 be expected. 



Pouched Mammals (Marsupialia) as Parachutists. Different 

 members of this order have adapted themselves to almost every 

 conceivable mode of life, and it is not surprising to find that some 

 of them are expert parachutists. These are the Flying Phalan- 

 gers of the Australian region. One of the best-known species 

 is the Squirrel Flying Phalanger or Sugar Squirrel (Petaurus 

 sciureus] of East Australia, in which there is a well-developed 



