h24 



(Erras'ttrji of 



$tetarn ; 



I tail reddish. It is a native of the Indian 

 and American seas ; but it is also sometimes 

 found in the Mediterranean, and some soli- 

 tary instances occur of its having been seen 

 about our own coasts. In the Gulf of Mexico 



i are found some species with curious append- 



! ages or filaments attached to the lower jaw. 

 The air-bladder in this, and doubtless in 



1 thc rest of the genus, is very large. 



FLYING SQUIRREL. (Ptcromys.) A 

 genus of rodent mammalia, distinguished 

 from the common Squirrels by the extension 

 1 of the skin of thc flank between the fore and 

 hind legs, which gives them the power of 

 supporting themselves a short time in thc 

 air, and of making immense leaps. The feet 

 have long bony appendages, which help to 

 support this lateral membrane. To this 

 genus belongs the common Flying Squirrel 

 ( ftct-omgs voraw), which is chiefly found in 

 the most northern regions, and abounds in 

 the birch and pine woods of Siberia in par- 

 ticular. Its colour on the upper parts is a 

 pale grev, and on the under parts milk- 

 white. It measures about six inches and a 



(Ptf- | 

 This species differs from I 



The VIRGINIAN FLY 



rowi/s rolxcilld.) 



the preceding both in size and colour. Its 

 general length is five inches to the tail, which 

 measures about four inches ; the colour being 

 a subferrujjinous brown above, and yellowish 



(PTEROMYS VOLDCELL 



white beneath ; and the edges of the '.lying- 



. membrane are of a darker tinge than the 



quarter in length, from the nose to the tail, ' lvst of the fur , contrasting with the white 

 the latter being shorter than the body, 1)onlor of thc ull(lor , )art . 8 ^ he tail is of a 

 thickly furred, of a slightly flattened form, \ similar colour to thc b odv, with thc hair 

 and rounded at the extremity. Its manner | 61 , rCttl u nK towards each side, and the cxtrc- 

 of flight, or rather springing, is performed : mitv somow hat sharpened. Tlie eyes are 

 by means of an expansile furry membrane, hln ; and the earg rat ], er short, " almost 

 reaching from the fore feet to the hind ; and , nn! : eil , uul ^inly rounded. It is a native 

 in order the better to manage this part, the I of the tcnnw riitc parts of North America; 

 thumb of the fore feet is stretched out to a anil bcini , u ^ allt iful little animal and rea- 



considerable length within the membrane, 

 so as to appear in the skeleton like a long 

 bony process on each side of the fore feet. 

 The Flying Squirrel generally resides in the 

 hollows of trees towards the upper part ; 



dily tamed, is frequently kept in a state of 

 captivity : it feeds on various fruits, nuts, 

 almonds,c., and shows a considerable degree 

 of attachment to its possessor. It is natu- 

 rally of a gregarious disposition, and may 



--, " , A *T . nuiv 01 u urvuur luuis uuyuviuvui wnu mj 



preparing its nest of the finer mosses. It is bc s ' L , en fl vm ,, to t h e number of ten or twelve 

 " ' 5 " 1 ""' - ""'" -" '~ ' together/from tree to tree. Like the former 



u solitary animal, and is only seen in pairs 

 during the breeding season. It rarely makes 

 its appearance by day, emerging only at the 

 commencement of twilight, when it may be 

 seen elimhing about the trees, and darting 

 with great velocity from one to the other. 

 It feeds on the young buds and catkins of 

 the birch and pine, &e. ; and in the winter 

 it leaves its nest only in mild weather, but 

 does not become torpid during that season. 

 This animal readily springs, or, as it were, 

 swiftly sails, to the distance of twenty fa- 

 thoms or more, and thus passes from one 

 tree to another, always directing its flight 

 obliquely downwards. It very rarely de- 

 scends to the surface, and, when taken and 

 placed on the ground, runs or springs some- 

 what awkwardly, with its tail elevated, be- 

 ginning to climb with great activity as soon 

 as it reaches a tree. If thrown from a height, 

 it immediately spreads its membranes, and, 

 balancing itself, endeavours to direct its 

 motion by the assistance of thc tail. The 



speeies, it is chiefly nocturnal in its habits 

 it prepares its nest in the hollows of trees, 

 with moss, leaves, &c. ; several often in- 

 habiting the same retreat. They are capable 

 of swimming, in ease of necessity, in the man- 

 ner of other quadrupeds, and, after leaving 

 thc water, can exert their power of flight as 

 before. 



FOOTMAN [MOTHS]. A name given 

 by collectors to different speeies of Moths, 

 of the genera Euiepia and Lilhosia. 



FORAMENIFERA. A term given by con- 

 chologists to denote a class of minute many- 

 chambered internal shells, which have no 

 open chamber beyond the last partition. 



FORFICULA. [See EARWIG.] 

 FORMICA. [See ANT.] 



FORMICID^E. A family of Hymenop- 

 rous insects, composed of the well-known 



two to four in number : they are at | and highly interesting tribes of Ants; but 



' elud'ii 



Cng arc produced early in May, and are j terous insects, composed of the well-known 

 n two to four in number: they are at j and highly interesting tribes of Ants; bu 

 first blind, and nearly void of hair ; and the j not including the still more singular Ternri 



parent fosters them by covering them with \ tj'doc, or White Ants, (with which they must 

 her flying-membrane. In their manner of | not be confounded). Both are full of in- 

 sitting and feeding, as well as in the action terest, and worthy of the most careful in- 

 of washing their face with their paws, &c., \ vestigation ; and to each we have accordingly 

 the Flying Squirrel resembles the common devoted no inconsiderable space. [See AST : 



DRIVER-ANT.] 



