188 THE FLYING SQUIKRELS. 



As the auimal is one of the hibernators, it is in the habit of gather- 

 ing together a supply of dried food, to afford occasional nourishment 

 during the long wintry months when it lies in its bed, imprisoned in 

 the bauds of irresistible sleep. Like many other hibernating animals, 

 the Dormouse becomes exceedingly fat toward the end of autumn, and 

 is therefore enabled to withstand the severity of the winter season bet- 

 ter than if it retired into its home in only its ordinary condition. As 

 soon as the weather becomes cold the Dormouse retires into its nest, and 

 there slumbers throughout the entire winter, waking up for a short pe- 

 riod whenever a milder temperature breaks the severity of the frost, 

 and, after taking a little nourishment, sinking again into its former 

 lethargy. 



The Dormouse is rather gregarious in its habits, so that whenever 

 one nest is discovered several others may generally be found at no great 

 distance. These nests are of considerable dimensions, being about six 

 mches in diameter, and are composed of grass, leaves, and similar sub- 

 stances. The entrance to the nest is at the side. 



The young animals are generally three or four in number at a birth, 

 Mud make their appearance about the end of spring or the beginning 

 of summer. It is probable that there may be a second brood toward 

 the end of autumn, as Mr. Bell received from one locality in the month 

 of September one half-grown Dormouse, which had evidently been born 

 in the spring, and three very little specimens, which were apparently 

 not more than a week or two old. They are born blind, but are able 

 to see in a very few days, and in a remarkably short space of time be- 

 come independent of their parents. 



The beautiful and active group of animals of which the English 

 Squirrel is so familiar an example are found in almost every portion 

 of the globe, and, with one or two exceptions, live almost exclusively 

 among the branches of trees. In order to enable them to maintain a 

 firm clasp upon the branches and bark, they are furnished with long 

 finger-like toes upon the fore-feet, which are armed with sharp curved 

 claws. 



In the Flying Squirrels, of which the Taguan is a good exam- 

 ])ie, the skin of the flanks is modified in a method similar to that which 

 has already been noticed in the Petaurists. The skin is so largely de- 

 veloped that when the animal is sitting at its ease, its paws but just ap- 

 pear from under the soft folds of the delicate and fur-clad membrane. 

 When the creature intends to make one of its marvellous leaps, it 

 stretches all its four limbs to their fullest extent, and is upborne through 

 the air on the parachute-like expansion which extends along its sides. 



This animal is a native of India, where it is tolerably common. 



It is rather a large species, as its total length is nearly three feet, the 

 tail occupying about one foot eight inches, measured to the extremity 



