1 70 The Flying Squirrel 



influences, and the whole family of our flying squirrels 

 must have visited the forest nightly, judging by the 

 quantities of nuts that were stored in boxes in the 

 attic and in the stub of the old maple tree. The 

 family lived happily together that winter, but the 

 next spring most of the young ones sought homes of 

 their own, most likely in the forest near by. Other 

 young were reared in the attic and the old tree, but 

 the following August they all mysteriously disap- 

 peared, both old and young, probably obeying some 

 migratory instinct. It is worthy of note that the 

 autumn following their disappearance the nut crop 

 was a complete failure in that immediate vicinity. 

 Is there any connection between the two circum- 

 stances? If so, flying squirrels are as wise as they 

 are beautiful. 



Besides nuts, buds, and various roots the flying 

 squirrels, both those born in captivity and the wild 

 ones, are particularly fond of meat. Without doubt 

 they catch sleeping birds and also destroy eggs and 

 fledgelings. By reason of this taste they have proved 

 themselves to be quite a source of annoyance to trap- 

 pers, destroying the bait intended for larger game, 

 springing the traps, and of course many times being 

 caught. Because of this interference trappers some- 

 times attempt to reduce the number of flying squirrels 



