140 ANIMAL COMPETITORS 



in a large cavity. Now and then a pair will 

 form an outdoor ball-like home in some old 

 bird's-nest; or will even invade the garret of 

 the farmhouse. 



Charm of the flying-squirrel. Strike one of 

 these tall stubs a smart blow with an ax or stone 

 and the squirrels will come pouring out of their 

 hole and go sailing away to neighboring trees 

 like birds. They alight near the bases of the 

 trunks and scamper upward to prepare for an- 

 other glide, but unless sharply pursued will 

 quickly turn to have a curious look at their dis- 

 turber. Their "flights" are made upon the 

 parachute of loose skin which extends in a furry 

 fold down to the feet, and is further supported 

 by a slender curved bone hinged to the back of 

 the wrist, while the flat tail acts as both balancer 

 and rudder as in a bird. When starting from 

 a high perch, and going down hill, they may 

 sail 200 or 300 yards; but have little or no 

 power of deviating from the straight line of the 

 intended leap, yet make a quick upward curve 

 as they alight. Audubon and Bachman have 

 given a delightful account of their gambols on 



