102 



and inter-orbital region more constricted, the orbital fossEe, auditory 

 buUse, and ears longer. Premolars, two; the first minute. Limbs united 

 by a furred membrane, which is an expansion of the skin of the sides of 

 the body, supported in front by a slender bone articulating with the 

 carpus, and directed backwards. Tail two thirds as long as head and 

 body, broad and flat, longer hairs directed laterally, thus serving as a 

 rudder in their flight-like leaps, and with the special membrane support- 

 ing the body in air in their short flights from trie to tree. Sciuropterus 

 may be regarded as a modified form of Sciurus, possessing rudimentary 

 powers of flight, through the support of the parachute-like expansion of 

 the skin of the sides of the body and the broad, flat tail. Pelalge dense, 

 soft, and furry; ears large, in conformity with their nocturnal habits. 

 Colors, some soft, dull shade of brown above, and whitish beneath. 

 Animals of small size, and crepuscular or nocturnal habits. 



This genus is represented in North America by a single species of wide 

 distribution ; Sciuropterus i)olans takes its place in Europe ; several species 

 occur in Asia. 



SciUEOPTERtIS VOLUCBLLA (Pall.) Gcofi". 



Var. volucella Allen. 



Southern Flying Squirrel. 



1743. Sciurus volans, Catesby, Carolina, ii, 1743, 76, 77, pi. Ixxvi, Ixxvii. — 

 Brisson, Quad., 157. — Linn., Syst. Nat., i, 1766, 88 (in part). 



1788. Sciurus volucella, Pallas, Nov. Spec. Glire's, 1788, 351, 353. — Gmelin, 

 Syst. Nat., i, 1788, 153; — Schreber, Saugt., iv, 1792, 808, pi. 

 ccxxii. — Shaw, Gen. Zool., ii, 1801, 155, pi. civ. 



1818. Pteromys volucella, Desm., Nouv. Diet. Hist. Nat., xxvii, 1818, 406; 

 Mamm., ii, 1822, 343.— Harlan, Faun. Amer., 1825, 187.— Grifi"., 

 Cuv., V, 1827, 269.— Fischer, Syn. Mamm., 1829, 365.— Godman, 

 Amer. Nat. Hist., ii, 146. — Yarrell, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 

 1830-1, 38 (anatomy).— "D. W. C," Loud. Mag. Nat. Hist., ix, 

 1836, 569 (habits).— Emmons, Quad. Mass., 1840, 69.— Thomp., 

 Hist. Vermont, 1842, 47.— DeKay, Zool. N. York, i, 1842, 65, pi. 

 xvi, fig. 2. — Wagner, Suppl. Schreb., iii, 1843, 231. — Schinz, Syn. 

 Mamm., ii, 1845, 54.— Aud. & Bach., Quad. N. A., i, 1849, 216, 

 69, pi. xxviii.— Kenn., Pat. Off Report Agric, 18-56-57, 69, pi. 

 viii.— Baird, Mamm. N. A, 1857, 286.— Thomas, Trans. lU. 

 Agric. Soc, iv, 1860, 657.— Hall, Canadian Nat. andGeoL, 1861, 

 292 — Cooper, Proc. Cal. Acad., ii, 1861. — Tomes, Proc. Zool. Soc. 

 Lond., 1861, 281 (Guatemala).— Maximilian, Wieg. Arch. f. Na- 

 turgesch., 1861, 77.— Allen, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., i, 1869, 224.— 

 Gilpin, Proc. and Trans. Nova Scotia Inst. Nat. Sci., ii, pi. ii , 



