THE ASSAPAN. 



through the air on the parachute-like expansion which extends along its sides. This 

 animal is a native of India, where it is tolerably common. 



It is rather a large species, as its total length is nearly three feet, the tail occupying about 

 one foot eight inches, measured to the extremity of the long hairs with which it is 

 so thickly clothed. The general color of this animal is a clear chestnut, deepening into 

 brown on the back, and becoming more ruddy on the sides. The little pointed ears 

 are covered with short and soft fur of a delicate brown, and the tail is heavily clad with 

 bushy hairs, grayish-black on the basal portions of that member, and sooty-black to- 

 wards the extremity. The parachute membrance is delicately thin, scarcely thicker 

 than ordinary writing-paper, when it is stretched to its utmost, and is covered with hair 

 on both its surfaces, the fur of the upper side being chestnut, and that of the lower 

 surface nearly white. A stripe of grayish-black hairs marks the edge of the membrane, 

 and the entire abdomen of the animal, together with the throat and the breast, is 

 covered with beautiful silvery grayish-white fur. 



THERE are many other Flying Squirrels be- 

 longing to different countries, but presenting very 

 similar characteristics of form and character. 

 They are all playful and lively animals, and en- 

 gage in the most gamesome sports as they chase 

 each other about the branches of the trees on 

 which they have taken up their residence. 

 Among these creatures we may record the names 

 of the ASSAPAN, or Flying Squirrel of America, the 

 POLATOUCHE of Siberia, and the RASOO of India. 



THE true Squirrels possess no parachute flying 

 membrane, as do the flying Squirrels, nor are 

 they furnished with cheek-pouches, as is the case 

 with the Ground Squirrels of America. 



One of the handsomest of the Squirrels is the 

 JELERANG, or JAVAN SQUIRREL, a native of Java, 

 part of India, and Cochin China. Its total length 

 is about two feet, the tail and body being equal 

 to each other in measurement. In color it is one 

 of the most variable of animals, so that it has been 

 more than once described under different names. 

 In the British Museum are several specimens of 

 this animal, and all of them present many varieties 

 in point of color, while some are so very unlike 

 each other that most persons would consider them 

 to be separate species. Some specimens of this 

 animal are pale yellpw, while others are deep 

 brown ; in some the color is tolerably uniform, 

 while in others it is variously pied ; but in all 

 there seems to be a tolerably decided contrast 

 between a darker and a lighter tint. From this 

 circumstance it has sometimes been termed 

 Seiurus bicolor, or the two-colored Squirrel. 



In general, the darker hue prevails on the back 

 and upper portions of the body, and the lighter 

 tint is abruptly separated from it by a decided line 

 ASSAPAN. Sciuropterus Volucella. of demarcation. The usual color of the Jelerang 



is a dark brownish-black on the back, the top of 



the head yellowish, and the sides and abdomen golden yellow. 



The Jelerang is rather common in the countries which it inhabits, and as it is very 



retiring in its habits, and dreads the proximity of mankind, it is not so mischievous a 



