UNCOMMON PETS. 
A series of articles on the Care and Keep of 
Animals in Captivity. 
BY 
P. WELLINGTON 
FARMBOROUGH, 
F.Z.S., F.E.S., etc. 
VI. 
AMERICAN FOREIGN 
FLYING SQUIRREL. SQUIRRELS. 
EVERAL of the exotic forms of the genus Sciwride form more charming pets and, 
as a matter of fact, are much more easily kept in captivity than the common 
English species; the only drawback is that, from their size being larger than that of 
the English variety, it necessarily follows that their cage must be larger as well. 
There are about eleven different species of these animals which are suitable as 
pets, viz.: The Black Hill Squirrel, Javan Squirrel, large Indian Squirrel, Long- 
tailed Squirrel, Hoary-bellied Grey Squirrel, Common Striped Squirrel, Orange-bellied 
Grey Sauirrel, Rufous-necked Squirrel, Plantain Squirrel, Grey Squirrel, Red-bellied 
Flying Squirrel, and the Grey Flying Squirrel. 
Owing to the strong teeth and destructive habits of all the squirrel family, it is 
necessary that the framework should be made of some strong material, preferably T- or 
angle-iron; if wooden cages are desired they must be most solidly put together of 
one-inch material, all projecting edges being covered with tin or zinc. The wire front 
is best of half-mch mesh galvanized wire netting, but may be of one-eighth-inch rod 
iron run through three-eighth-inch-width flat cross-bars placed twelve inches apart. <A 
retiring-box about twelve inches square should be attached to the back of the cage 
at the top, just under the roof, as squirrels soon mope if they cannot have a hiding- 
place to fly to whenever they feel disposed to hide themselves from prying eyes. In. 
order that this box may be easily cleaned out without disturbing and terrifying the 
animals unnecessarily, a small door must be made in the main cage opening into this 
sleeping-apartment at the back or side; another door must be made opening flush 
with the floor of the cage proper, but must not be larger than absolutely necessary, as 
squirrels are very nimble creatures, and are as likely as not to be outside the cage 
before one is well aware of the fact. The cages for flying squirrels should be somewhat 
deeper than those intended for the other species of Sciwride, with dark comers for 
the animals to retire to durmg the daytime without actually using the small boxes. 
The bottom of the cage should be strewn with a layer of sawdust, and over this a 
layer of fine straw. Some people use hay as being sweeter-smelling material; but as 
hay has a great tendency to encourage insects, its use is not recommended. Cleanliness 
Is a sine gud non with these as with all other animals, and the cage, in addition to 
being cleaned owt every day, must be scrubbed out every week with a strong solution 
of soda and water, with a free use of one of the various kinds of carbolic or other 
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