Feb., 191 2. Mammals of Illinois and Wisconsin — Cory. 105 



ing Squirrels, screech-owls, and leather-winged Bats running from it. 

 We caught several of each, and one of the Flying Squirrels was kept as 

 a pet in a cage for six months. The various apartments of the box 

 were stored with hickory-nuts, chestnuts, acorns, corn, etc., intended 

 for the winter supply of food. There must have been as many as 

 twenty Flying Squirrels in the box, as many bats, and we know there 

 were six screech-owls. The crevices of the house were always in- 

 habited by Squirrels. The docility of the one we kept as a pet was 

 remarkable; although he was never lively and playful in the day-time, 

 he would permit himself to be handled and spread out at the pleasure 

 of anyone. We frequently took him from the cage, laid him on the 

 table or on one hand, and exposed the extension of his skin, smoothed 

 his fur, put him in our pocket or bosom, etc., he pretending all the time 

 to be asleep." 



Kennicott says: "Its habitat being strictly among trees, it cannot, 

 of course, abide on the prairies, nor is it found generally in our smaller 

 prairie groves ; though it is as abundant in the larger woods of Northern 

 Illinois as elsewhere. The Flying Squirrel is as active as the true 

 species, but unlike the rest of the family, it is nocturnal, and does not 

 move about by day, except at times in cloudy weather. It prefers 

 the twilight or darkness, when it leaves its retreat for amusement or 

 in search of food, seldom travelling on the ground, but sailing grace- 

 fully from tree to tree, running up towards the top of one and alighting 

 lower upon the trunk of another. It is gregarious, living in hollow 

 trees in large companies. It usually prevails in greater numbers, 

 wherever found at all, than is generally supposed. If, in passing 

 through the woods, anyone will strike the sides of old hollow trees, 

 he will frequently see a number of these singular and beautiful little 

 animals rush out of a hole and sail off to the neighboring trees" (/. c, 

 p. 70-71). 



When a nest is found the old ones are easily taken in box traps, 

 being seemingly very unsuspicious, but without some good reason for 

 so doing it seems a pity to deprive such beautiful little animals of 

 their freedom. 



Flying Squirrels are practically omnivorous, as among other things 

 they eat nuts, seeds, insects, birds' eggs and often young birds. 



As to whether the Flying Squirrels hibernate in the strict sense of 

 the word I am somewhat in doubt, although it is generally believed by 

 naturalists that they probably do, to a more or less degree, depending 

 upon the severity of the winter. It is well known that they remain 

 in their nests during very cold weather, but their sleep is apparently 

 not very sound, for if a tree in which they have their winter home be 



