218 COMMON FLYING-SQUIRREL. 



the teachings of the quadrupeds and birds that people the solitudes of 

 the wilderness. Even the gentle little Flj'ing-Squirrel has more than 

 once diverted our attention from the pages of Griesbach and Michaelis, 

 and taught us lessons of contentment, of innocence, and of parental and 

 filial affection, more impressive than the theological disquisitions of learned 

 commentators. 



We recollect a locality not many miles from Philadelphia, where, in 

 order to study the habits of this interesting species, we occasionally 

 strayed into a meadow containing here and there immense oak and beech 

 trees. One afternoon we took our seat on a log in the vicinity to watch 

 their lively motions. It was during the calm warm weather peculiar to 

 the beginning of autumn. During the half hour before sunset nature 

 seemed to be in a state of silence and repose. The birds had retired to 

 the shelter of the forest. The night-hawk had already commenced his 

 low evening flight, and here and there the common red bat was on the 

 wing ; still for some time not a Flying-Squirrel made its appearance. 

 Suddenly, however, one emerged from its hole and ran up to the top of 

 a tree ; another soon followed, and ere long dozens came forth, and com- 

 menced their graceful flights from some upper branch to a lower bough. 

 At times one would be seen darting from the topmost branches of a tall 

 oak, and with wide-extended membranes and outspread tail gliding 

 diagonally through the air, till it reached the foot of a tree about fifty 

 yards off", when at the moment we expected to see it strike the earth, it 

 suddenly turned upwards and alighted on the body of the tree. It would 

 then run to the top and once more precipitate itself from the upper 

 branches, and sail back again to the tree it had just left. Crowds of 

 these little creatures joined in these sportive gambols ; there could not 

 have been less than two hundred. Scores of them would leave each 

 tree at the same moment, and cross each other, gliding like spirits 

 through the air, seeming to have no other object in view than to indulge 

 a playful propensitj'. We watched and mused till the last shadows of 

 day had disappeared, and darkness admonished us to leave the little 

 triflers to their nocturnal enjoyments, 



During the day this species avoids the light, its large eyes like those of 

 the owl cannot encounter the glare of the sun ; hence it appears to be a 

 dull and uninteresting pet, crawling into your sleeve or pocket, and seek- 

 ing any dark place of concealment. But twilight and darkness are its 

 season for activity and pleasure. At such times, in walking through the 

 woods you hear a rattling among the leaves and branches, and the fall- 

 ing acorns, chesnuts, and beech-nuts, give evidence that this little crea- 

 ture is supplying itself with its food above you, 



