eyes) 
the state. Thev also enter houses, dove-cots, etc., and build their 
nests there. 
The food of the flying squirrel includes the usual wide variety 
of substances eaten by other squirrels—seeds, nuts, buds, etc., and, 
at least in captivity, beetles and raw flesh. Probably birds and 
nestlings are sometimes eaten by it. 
This species is the most exclusively arboreal mammal we have, 
never straying far from trees, seldom touching the ground, and 
never, so far as observation goes, making long runs on the ground 
or even following fences for any considerable distance. During the 
winter it keeps to the nest and is more or less torpid. It lays up 
stores, however, and in captivity is somewhat active during the 
winter, though it is said to be dull and stupid, lacking entirely the 
vivacity that characterizes it in summer. 
The females are said to produce a single annual litter in April in 
the northern part of their range, but as many as three litters a year 
in the South. Data on this point for this county are too meager to 
be of value. The number in a litter is from three to six. 
These squirrels may be said to be gregarious but not social. 
The family remains together for a considerable time, and possibly 
others join it. At least quite large colonies are found living in the 
same tree. They are not quarrelsome, but in their work and their 
play they exhibit a remarkable indifference to each others’ presence, 
each sporting by himself without regard to the others. The mothers, 
however, show remarkable devotion to their young. 
Nothing can be more elusive than the flight of this squirrel when 
first seen. Even if the eye is fortunate enough to note the start, as 
the squirrel leaps from a tree 1n a long, swift, silent glide, the quick 
upward turn is sure to bewilder and make one lose sight of the ant- 
mal. There is a striking resemblance between this quiet gliding 
downward of the squirrel and the floating of aleaf. There is said to 
be a slight tremulous motion of the fore limbs during the glide, but it 
is difficult to see what function this may have in the movement of 
the animal. 
The flying squirrel has three quite diverse calls or cries. It 
utters the usual ‘“‘chuck-chuck”’ of squirrels, the usual quick, sharp 
squeak when scolding, and also, more rarely, a clear musical note, 
commonly melodious and pleasant, but occasionally shrill. This 
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