SCIUBID-E.- 



-MAMMALIA.- 



-Myoxid^. 



133 



Limitation of space prevents our gi-ving full details 

 of the Marmots. Those of our readers, therefore, who 

 desire further information on tliis head should considt 

 Sir_ John Eichardson's " Fauna Boreali Americana," 

 where they will find a detailed account of the followuig 

 species of American marmots, unavoidably omitted 

 in this work : — The American Souslik {SpermophUiis 

 guttatiis) ; the Ta\vny Marmot {Arctomys Eichard- 

 sonii) ; the Leopard Marmot (^-1. Hoodii) ; Say's Mar- 

 mot {A. lateralis) ; Douglas's Marmot {A. Douglasii) ; 

 Beechey's Marmot {A . Beecheyi) ; Franklin's Marmot 

 (^4. Franlclitiii) ; Parry's Marmot [A. Parry i). 



In regard to the SquiiTels possessmg flymg mem- 

 branes, we can only otfer the following jiarticiUars : — 



THE EUROPEAN FLYING SQUIRREL {Sciuroplcrus 

 volann) is only found in the north-eastern parts of oiu- 

 continent, being more abmidant in the forests and wild 

 wastes of Siberia. Its habits are similar to those of the 

 common squirrel, feeding, as it does, on the buds of 

 beech-trees and on the seeds contained in fir-cones. 

 During its flying leaps — so much increased in power by 

 membranous expansions of the skin between the fore 

 and hmd limbs — the tail is stretched out to aid in 

 steeling the body. In a state of repose, this organ is, 

 as usual, gracefully curved over the back. 



NIEUHOFF'S FLYING SQUIRREL {Sciuroptcrus 

 sagitta). — This very rare animal — concerning the spe- 

 cific distinctness of which there can be no reasonable 

 doubt — has been carefidly described by Pennant. It 

 is a native of Java and other Indian islands, and mea- 

 sirres eighteen inches in length, exclusive of the tail, 

 which would give us other fifteen inches. The fur is 

 of a bright bay colour, uicluiing to orange. During its 

 fl}iug leaps, it is said to employ the tail as a prehensile 

 organ. 



THE KECHUBU [Sciuroplerus genibarbis) is another 

 form of Javanese flying squirrel, measuring, with the 

 tail, about fourteen inches. According to Horsfield it is 

 comparatively rare, and infests the forests of Pugar, one 

 of the most sequestered districts of the eastern portion 

 of Java. Its habits are uoctumal. The fm- has a 

 tawniy-grey colour generally, the inferior parts being 

 lighter ; the texture of the haii- is particularly soft and 

 do^vniy. 



HORSFIELD' S FLYING SQUIRREL {Sduropterus 

 lepidus) very closely resembles the above, and the dis- 

 tmctions given by Horsfield scarcely seem to warrant 

 its being regarded as a separate species. " It is only 

 found m the closest forests of Java, where tlie height 

 of the trees and the luxuriance of the foliage effectu- 

 ally conceal it. It is with great difficulty pursued or 

 seized." 



THE GREATER FLYING SQUIRREL {Sduropterus 

 Sabri>ms)—F\a.te 14, fig. 43 — of Noiii America, is 

 about a foot long, including the tail. The fur has a 

 pale reddish-brown coloiu' generally, bemg also of very 

 dehcate texture. The Rocky Mountain variety so 

 closely resembles it, that, in the opmion of Sn Jolm 

 .Richardson, the two Idnds ought to be regarded as 

 identical. 



THE ASSAPAN {Pteromys mlucella) is a compara- 

 tively small species of flying squirrel. It is very 

 abundant in the United States, infesting the prauies 



in large troops. Its tail is about one-fom-th shorter 

 than the body, and, as in other aUied forms, is flat and 

 chstichous. 



F.UULY II.— MYOXID.E. 



The Dormice represent a group intermediate between 

 the squirrels and the mice. The molars are sixteen in 

 number, furnished with fangs, and have their cro\\iis 

 marked with transverse .ridges of enamel. The feet 

 are pentadactylous, but the fifth toe of the fore-foot is 

 merely represented by a rudimentary tubercle or warty 

 excrescence. The ears are roimded and oval, and the 

 whiskers well developed. The fur is particidarly soft 

 and fine. The tail is very long, hairy, and more or less 

 tufted at the extremity. The food of the Dormice con- 

 sists principally of vegetable matters ; but they also 

 devour beetles, and have been knowii, in a state of 

 confinement, to eat bats, and even thei;: own yoimg. 



THE COMMON DORMOUSE [Myoxus avellanaritts) 

 — Plate 15, fig. 47. — This well-known little animal, 

 ■with, its ruddy yeUow fur, is a great favourite -srith those 

 who delight in domesticated animals — m which condi- 

 tion it is particularly gentle and docile. It is tolerably 

 common throughout Europe, and dwells in the seques- 

 tered parts of dense thickets and plantations. During 

 the summer it lays up a store against the winter, when 

 it faUs into a drowsy and torpid state ; but on warm 

 sun-shiny days it sometimes emerges from its snug 

 retreat or dormitory. Its haliits are nocturnal. In 

 the sprmg the female usually produces four yormg, 

 wliich are bhnd at tlie time of birth. According to 

 Mr. Bell, a second brood is occasionally brought forth 

 in the early part of autumn. 



THE GREAT DORMOUSE (Myoxus Glis) is an inha- 

 bitant of Southern Evu'ope, being also found in Georgia 

 and on the borders of the Wolga. It is about the size 

 of om: common rat, and has a pale ash-coloured fur, 

 which is white underneath tlie belly, and at the inner 

 sides of the limbs ; the ej'es being suiTounded by a 

 dark-brown circle. This animal was, in early times, 

 highly prized as a dainty, and was kept by tlie ancients 

 and fattened in separate hutches expressly for the table. 

 It is still eaten by the Itahans. It nestles in holes of 

 trees and rooks, and sometimes attacks small birds. 



Family III.— DIPODID^. 



The Jerboas are at once recognized by their re- 

 markably developed hinder extremities, although this 

 peculiarity is also seen m a less striking degree m the 

 marsupial kangaroos. The elongation of the hind 

 limbs eminently fits the members of this family for 

 dwelling amongst wild wastes and open plains ; and it 

 is tlierefore in such localities that they are found. Their 

 molar teeth are complex, and in some instances desti- 

 tute of roots. The hind feet are tridactylous in the true i 

 Jerboas, and tetradactylous m aberrant forms. The 

 cla^icles are well developed. The eyes are large ; tie 

 tail is veiy long, hairj', and frequently tufted at the tip. 



THE 3;GYPTIAN JERBOA (Dljnis ^ijyjJtius)— 

 Plate 14, fig. 45 — is extremely common in tlie coimtry 

 fi'om whence its name is derived. According to Swain- 



