FLYING SQUIRRELS 215 



Polatouche (Sciuropterus volans), Plate XXI. Fig. i, 

 is an elegant little creature, whose tawny brown body 

 is only six inches long ; on the outside of the limbs 

 and the flying membrane it is darker. In winter the silky 

 fur not only becomes longer, but the main portions of it 

 change into silver grey. Like its bigger relative, the 

 Taguan, this little flier is nocturnal, only leaving its soft- 

 lined nest in a hole in a tree when dusk arrives. Though 

 it is really a diminutive creature even when stretched out 

 in flying attitude, it can take flights of thirty yards with 

 ease. The Assapan (Sciuropterus volucella) is the North 

 American Flying Squirrel. It is even smaller than the 

 preceding, but often attracts more attention, if only because 

 a number of sociable Assapans engage in their evening 

 evolutions, whereas the Polatouche usually moves about 

 alone or only in pairs. 



ANOMALURE (Anomalurus fulgens). 

 Plate XXI. Fig. 2. 



Though it is a Flying Squirrel, the Fulgent Anomalure 

 presents marked differences in construction sufficient to 

 raise it to the dignity of a separate family. It is a 

 West African animal, found chiefly in the Gaboon 

 region. 



One special point of difference rests in the fact that in 

 front the flying membrane extends, not from the wrists, 

 but from elbow to elbow, being additionally braced by a 

 rod of bony cartilage, almost as though the animal pos- 

 sessed four front limbs. The flying membranes of the 

 Colugo, the Taguan and its allies, and the Anomalure, 

 really differ only in the points of attachment to the limbs, 

 but the last-named animal exhibits a feature that is entirely 

 absent in the others. On the under side of the root of 

 the long, thickly-haired tail is a row of horny scales, 

 which are useful as an additional aid in holding securely 

 to the bark of a branch while preparing to take a flying 

 leap. 



