156 VIRGINIAN FLYING SQUIRREL. 



in a state of captivity, being readily tamed, feed- 

 ing on various fruits, nuts, almonds, walnuts, &c. 

 &c. and shewing a considerable degree of attach- 

 ment to its possessor. Mr. Schreber assures us, 

 that he saw one, which, on being held for some 

 time in the hand of a stranger, would spring the 

 length of a large room to the person to whom it 

 had been most accustomed. It is naturally of a 

 gregarious disposition, in which particular it dif- 

 fers widely from the preceding species, and may 

 be seen, according to Mr. Catesby, flying, to the 

 number of ten or twelve together, from tree to 

 tree. Like the former species, it is chiefly a noc- 

 turnal animal, lying concealed during the day, 

 and commencing its activity in the evening. It 

 prepares its nest in the hollows of trees, with 

 leaves, moss, &c. and it is said that several often 

 inhabit the same nest, sometimes as many as 

 twelve. 



These animals reside constantly on the upper 

 parts of trees, and never willingly quit them for 

 the ground. They are said to be capable of swim- 

 ming, in case of necessity ; during which exercise 

 they do not spread their membrane, but swim in 

 the manner of other quadrupeds, and, after leav- 

 ing the water, can exert their power of flight as 

 readily as before. They are said to produce three 

 or four young at a time. 



