32 ANIMAL LIFE PAST AND PRESENT. 



are provided with a pair of chisel-like gnawing-teeth 

 in the front of each jaw, that we again meet with 

 Mammals having the power of spurious flight. Among 

 the most curious of these are the so-called Anomalures 

 of Africa, which are small Eodents nearly related to 

 the Squirrels. Here we find the parachute connect- 

 ing both pairs of limbs together, as in the Flying 

 Phalangers, but with the additional peculiarity that 

 there is a spike-like rod of cartilage projecting from 

 the elbow, which, by acting in the manner of a yard- 

 arm, allows the width of the expansion to be greater 

 than could otherwise be the case. This rod, together 

 with the presence of a series of scales along the sides 

 of the base of the tail from which the creatures 

 take their name serves to distinguish the Anomalures 

 from the Flying Squirrels. Of the latter there are 

 three genera, mostly found in the oriental region, 

 although a few species range into North America and 

 Europe. These creatures (Fig. 12) exactly resemble ordi- 

 nary Squirrels in general appearance and habits, with 

 the exception of having a parachute connecting the front 

 with the hind limbs, after the manner of the Flying 

 Phalangers. In some species an additional membrane 

 connects the root of the tail with the thigh, but this 

 is wanting in others. The flight of the Flying Squirrels 

 is precisely like that of the Flying Phalangers; and 

 if the two were to be found together, it would be quite 

 impossible to distinguish the one from the other dur- 

 ing flight. Flying Squirrels, however, utter a sharp, 

 squeaking cry during their flight, while the Flying 



