THE FLYING SQUIRREL. 313 



Rewards for the destruction of squirrels. 



ceived two-pence from the public treasury on 

 delivering up its head. Pennsylvania alone paid, 

 from January 1749 to January 1750, no less a 

 sum than eight thousand pounds, currency, in 

 rewards for the destruction of these animals. 



They generally make their nests in the hollows 

 of trees, with straw, moss, and other materials : 

 and feed on acorns, fir-cones, maize, &c. as well 

 as on various kinds of fruit. They are said to 

 lay up great quantities of provision for winter: 

 which they deposit in holes beneath the roots of 

 trees, and in other places. They are very diffi- 

 cult to kill ; changing their place on the trees 

 with such expedition as generally to elude the 

 shot of the most expert marksman. Their flesh 

 is eaten by some persons, and is reckoned very 

 delicate. The skins are used in America for 

 ladies' shoes, and are sometimes imported into 

 England, for the lining or facing of cloaks. 



THE FLYING SQUIRREL. 



THIS animal is peculiarly distinguished by a 

 hairy membrane, which extends nearly round the 

 body ; and assists it greatly in leaping from one 

 tree to another; sometimes at the distance of 

 twenty or thirty yards. Its head is small and 

 round, and its upper lip cloven ; its eyes are full 

 and black, and its ears small and naked. The 

 upper parts of the body are of a cinereous brown ; 

 the belly is white, tinged with yellow. 



2 B 



