HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 395 



tion to its bulk, the acceleration of its fall is retard- 

 ed, and it appears to sail or fly from one place to 

 another. Where numbers of them are seen at a 

 time leaping, they appear like leaves blown off by 

 the wind. 



There are several kinds, differing much in size. 

 In the islands of the East Indies, there is a variety 

 as large as a Hare, called the TAGUAN, or GREAT 

 FLYING SQUIRREL, which perfectly resembles the 

 other in figure, and in the form of its lateral mem- 

 brane. The head is smaller in 'proportion to the 

 size of the body ; the colour of the skin is dark 

 brown, mixed with white ; the upper part of the 

 body whitish ; the tail is brown, and grows gradu- 

 ally deeper towards the end, where it is black ; the 

 claws are long, thin, and hooked, like those of a 

 Cat, and enable it to keep hold where it happens 

 to fall ; it also catches hold with its tail, which is 

 long and muscular. 



It is a wild and timid animal. Its bite is so 

 strong, that it can make its escape from a wooden 

 cage with great facility. 



A variety is found in Virginia, called, by Mr. 

 Pennant, the HOODED SQUIRREL; the lateral mem- 

 brane begins at the chin and ears, where it forms a 

 kind of hood, and extends, like that of the former, 

 from the fore to the hind legs ; its body is of a red- 

 dish colour above, and of a yellowish ash beneath. 

 It is a rare species, not much noticed by naturalists. 



