346 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXIII, 



eyes, wMch in the cruel carnivora soften in love or flash in anger, are lus- 

 trous, staring orbs, changeless in all passions, motionless in all excitement. 

 When angered the ears move backwards for protection ; the claws are fixed 

 and ready to strike the object provoking its resentment ; the mouth is 

 opened and the little teeth are fixed for the attack ; the vibrissse move 

 forward as though to discern the cause of the provocation and the animal 

 utters a gentle vibrating growl. In the Common Squirrel, when alarmed, 

 the hairs of the tail are often erected, but this does not seem to occur in 

 the Flying Squirrel. In fear the ears are again retracted ; the head is 

 drawn in towards the trunk and the whole body shrinks backwards. 

 It is recoiling and retreating in its fear when suddenly it turns, scampers 

 off, springs upon a tree-trunk and scrambles for safety amongst the 

 branches. 



In the tree (Fig. 2). 



The ascent of the tree-trunk is rapid and skilful. It consists of a hand- 

 over hand motion of both fore and hind limbs, though, under favourable 

 conditions, the animal may advance by a series of short leaps. The face is 

 directed upwards ; the body flattened and both chin and belly are in close 

 contact with the tree. The toes are flexed and the strong curved claws 

 are bent inwards to grasp the smallest irregularities of the surface, though 

 they do not penetrate to any appreciable extent ; the parachute is almost 

 entirely concealed, though at each movement a small angular fold of 

 membrane is revealed at the junction of the body with the limbs, and when 

 the animal stretches forwards or backwards, to grasp a distant foothold a 

 large and irregular expanse of parachute becomes visible which gives to 

 the creature a strange and unreal appearance. 



But the branches of the tree is the squirrel's true home, and it is 

 here that the dexterity of its movements and the remarkable method 

 of maintaining its balance excite the greatest wonder. On a strong 

 bough where the squirrel can maintain a firm and secure resting place 

 its ease of motion and mode of progression resemble closely those 

 attitudes and movements which are characteristic of the animal when 

 resting on the solid ground ; but as it wanders out among the smaller and 

 less stable branches or nimbly springs from a swaying perch to a new 

 position of security, there are called into action fresh attitades and fresh 

 movements, all most beautifully adapted to the varying conditions of an 

 arboreal existence. It rests seated most usually across the branch with 

 body curved and the hind quarters drawn well forward, so that the hind 

 limbs, which are flexed, come well up to the fore limbs and grasp the 

 support almost in the same transverse line ; the fingers and toes are bent 

 and the curved claws seize the roughened surface ; the parachute is con- 

 cealed save for a narrow white siniious fold which winds beneath the lateral 

 aspect of the body ; the head and neck are stretched forward and the tail 

 hangs vertically down behind. Now this position of the tail may be con- 

 sidered as almost without exception when the animal is seated in an even 

 balance on a thin branch ; it is not the sole effect of gravity as the whole 

 organ is under a distinct muscular control ; and, moreover, it is a position of 

 great importance and performs a most definite function in the maintenance 

 of the bodily equilibrium. For, when the animal is thus resting on a narrow 

 support there is a comparatively small portion of the posterior part of the 

 body jutting out backwards over the branch, owing to the haunches and 

 hind limbs being carried well forward, in order that the latter may advance 

 to meet the fore limbs. But, on the other, the head, neck and anterior 

 portion of the body project well in advance of the branch in front and there 

 is thus an excess of weight in the larger projecting fore body above that in 

 the smaller overhanging hind body, and were it not for some accommodating. 



