314 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Mode of flying, or leaping. 



These quadrupeds associate in flocks ; several 

 living in the same tree, which they never volun- 

 tarily quit to run upon the ground, but almost 

 constantly reside among the branches. They 

 sleep during the day; but on the approach of 

 night they are very lively and active. 



In leaping to a considerable distance, they ex- 

 tend their hind-legs, and stretch out the inter- 

 vening skin, by which they present a greater sur- 

 face to the air, and become more buoyant. 

 They are, however, still under the necessity of 

 taking advantage of the lower branches of the 

 trees, to which they leap; as their weight pre- 

 cludes the possibility of keeping in a straight line. 

 Sensible of this, they always take care to mount 

 so high as to ensure them from falling to the 

 ground. Their lateral membranes, when extend- 

 ed, act upon the air somewhat in the manner of 

 a paper kite, and not by repeated strokes like the 

 wings of a bird. The animal, being naturally 

 heavier than the air, must of course descend ; 

 the distance, therefore, to which it can leap, de- 

 pends entirely on the height of the tree on which 

 it stands. 



Catesby tell us, that when he first saw a flock 

 of these animals, he supposed them to have been 

 dead leaves blown one way by the wind ; but he 

 was soon undeceived, on observing many of them 

 follow one another in the same direction. 



The female produces from two to four young ; 

 which she nurtures with the greatest , affection, 



