Chap. 2. 



QUADRUPEDS OF VERMONT. 



47 



THE FLYING SQUIRREL. 



THE HEDGE HOG 



unci adapted for seizing ,■ tail long, villose ; skin of 

 liie sides extending iVoin ihe anierinr to the poste- 

 rior extremities forming a kind of paracinite. 



THE FLYTNG SQUIRREL. 



Pteromys volucella. — Desmarest. 



Description. — General color, reddish 

 gray above, yellowish white beneath : 

 head large; nose rounded; eyes large, 

 black, prominent, and far apart, and sur- 

 rounded by a blackish ash color, with a 

 white s])ot over each ; ears broad, round- 

 ed, and nearly naked ; v/hiskers black, 

 two inclies long; tail long, thickly covered 

 with fine long t'ur, brown above, lighter be- 

 neath, and flattened ; a bony appendage, 

 about an inch long, proceeding from the 

 wrist, and used in stretching the flying 

 membrane. Length of the specimen be- 

 fore me, from the nose to the insertion of 

 the tail, 6 inclies ; tail .5,1 inclies ; spread 

 of the membrane, measured across the 

 breast, 6^ inches. 



History. — Tliis interesting little ani- 

 mal is frequently met with, living in fam- 

 ilies, in all parts of the State, but is nev- 

 er so greatly multiplied as some of the 

 preceding species of squirrels. TJiey usu- 

 ally inhabit the hollows of trees, and feed 

 upon nuts, grains, seeds and buds. Their 

 wings are not calculated for rising in tlie 

 air and flying in the manner of hat.s and 

 birds. Consisting only of an extension of 

 tiie skin of the flanks, they form only a 

 kind of parachute, by which they are sup- 

 ported for a while in tlie air, and are thus 

 enabled to sail from one tree to another at 

 a distance of several rods. In proceeding 

 through the forests, they first ascend 

 high upon a tree, and, leaping off in the 

 direction of another tree, and at the same 

 time spreading their wings, they are ena- 

 bled to sail, while descending, to a con- 

 siderable distance, and to alight on the 

 tree designated, near the ground. This 



they ascend, and proceed in like manner 

 to another tree, thus passing to a consid- 

 erable distance without coining to the 

 ground. Their habits are nocturnal, and, 

 unless disturbed, they seldom leave tlieir 

 nests in the day time. When this animal 

 sleeps, it rolls itself up, and so wraps ita 

 large flat tail over its head and limbs as 

 completely to conceal them, and give it 

 the appearance of a simple ball of fur. 

 The flying squirrel is often tamed as a 

 pet, but is more admired on account of its 

 singular form, soft fur, and gentle dispo- 

 sition, than for its sprightliness and.activ- 

 ity. 



Genus Hystrix. — Lmnceus. 



Generic Characters. — Teeth 20 — Incis- 

 ors, 3 no canines, "rinders 1.1. The orind- 

 ers have flat tops, but are furnished with ridges 

 of enamel. Head strong and convex ; muzzle 

 thick and turned ; ears short and rounded ,• tongue 

 furnished with spiny scales; fore feet, with four 

 toes, and the rudiment of a thumb ; hind feet 

 with five toes; nails strong on all the feet; body 

 covered with spines, intermixed with strong hair ; 

 tail more or less long, and sometimes prehensile. 



,>^.--. 



•^iS? 



ii^^^lW'^'^-^^ 



THE HEDGE HOG. 

 Hystrix dorsata. — Gmelin. 



Description. — General color, brown- 

 ish black ; hair rather long, thick, and in- 

 terspersed with spines or quills, which 

 vary from 1 to 4 inches in length ; quills 

 black at the tip, below brownit^h, and 

 white towards their base. Ears small, 

 and covered by the hair; snout short and 

 thick. Legs and feet covered with hair, 

 the latter armed with long curved nails. 

 Tail thick, flattened, and not prehensile. 

 Length 26 inches; tail 8; height of the 

 back 14. 



History. — The Hedge Hog was origin- 

 ally very common in Vermont, but is now 

 confined principally to the mountainous 

 and woody parts, where it is still found 

 in considerable numbers. This animal is 

 remarkable, principally, on account of the 

 quills or spines, which are inlermingled 

 with the hair, on nearly all ])arts of its 

 body; and as he runs very bacMy, and is- 

 moderate and awkward in all his move- 



