SIO HISTOUY OF 



to see it at one bound dart above a hurdred yards from one tree 

 to another. They are assisted in this spring by a very peculiar 

 formation of the skin that extends from the fore-feet to the hin- 

 der ; so that when the animal stretches its fore-legs forward and 

 its hind-legs backward, this skin is spread out between them, 

 somewhat like that between th.e legs of a bat. The surface of 

 the body being thus increased, the little animal keeps buoyant 

 in the air until the force of its first impulsion is expired, and 

 then it descends. This skin, when the creature is at rest, or 

 walking, continues wrinkled up on its sides ; but when its limbs 

 are extended, it forms a kind of web between them of above an 

 inch broad on either side, and gives the whole body the appear- 

 ance of a skin tioatirig in the air. In this manner the tlying 

 squirrel changes place, not like a bird by repeated strokes of its 

 wings, but rather like a paper kite, supported by the expansion 

 of the surface of its body ; but with this difference, however, 

 that, being naturally heavier than the air, instead of mounting it 

 descends ; and that jump, which upon the ground would not be 

 above forty yards, when fiom a higher tree to a lower maybe 

 above a hundred. 



This little animal is more common in America than in Europe, 

 but not very common to be seen in either. It is usually found, 

 like the squirrel, on the tops of trees ; but, though better fitted 

 for leaping, it is of a more torpid disposition, and is seldom seen 

 to exert its powers ; so that it is often seized by the pole-cat 

 and the martin. It is easily tamed, but apt to breakaway when- 

 ever it finds an opportunity. It does not seem fond of nuts or 

 almonds, like other squirrels, but is chiefly pleased with the sprouts 

 of the birch, and the cones of the pine. It is fed in its tame 

 state with bread and fruits ; it generally sleeps by day, and is al- 

 ways most active by night. Some naturalists gravely caution us 

 not to let it get among our corn fields, where, they tell us, it 

 will do a great deal of damage, by cropping the corn as soon as it 

 begins to ear ! ' 



1 Ho may easily be made tajne : but he i3 apt to do a great deal of 

 damage in tlie corn fields, because he will crop the corn as soon as it begin* 

 lo car. Brooke's Nat. Hist. 



