440 NATURE'S TEACHINGS. 



confined during the process of development, its form bears the 

 same startling resemblance to the Parachute. 



PASSING from the vegetable world, there will be seen three 

 examples of Natural Parachutes. Several others will be men- 

 tioned, but we have no space for description or figure. It will 

 be seen, however, that the one principle which characterizes 

 them all is the exposure to the air of a flattened and large sur- 

 face, in proportion to the size of the object. 



Before beginning the description, however, I must mention 

 that nearly all animal parachutes can to a certain extent guide 

 their course, while neither the balloon, the gossamer, the para- 

 chute, nor the various winged seeds have the least power of 

 guidance, but must follow every current of air in which they 

 may happen to float. 



THE upper figure represents a Flying Squirrel. 



There are many species of Flying Squirrel, but they all agree 

 in one point. The skin of their sides is modified into a very 

 thin fold, which extends as far as the feet. 



It is very elastic, so that when it is not in use it falls into 

 folds or wrinkles, and is hardly perceptible. But should the 

 Squirrel wish to pass from one tree to another, without coming- 

 to the ground, it spreads its legs as widely as possible, so as to 

 stretch the membrane into a wide, flat surface. It then boldly 

 springs into the air, and sweeps upon its mark with a sort of 

 skimming movement. Except that it does not revolve, it 

 passes through the air much after the fashion of an oyster- 

 shell when thrown horizontally. 



Many mammalia are constructed after a similar fashion, such 

 as the Colugo, or Flying Monkey, the Flying Mice, and the 

 Flying Phalangists, or " Opossums," as they are popularly 

 called. 



IN the centre is the Flying Dragon, or small lizard, which 

 very probably gave rise to the fabled Dragons in which our 

 ancestors so devoutly believed. Indeed, on looking back at 

 the old illustrated works on Natural History, there can be but 

 little doubt on the subject. 



In this creature, the ribs, instead of the legs, carry the 



