140 ANIMAL COMPETITORS 
in a large cavity. Now and then a pair will 
form an outdoor ball-like home in some old 
bird’s-nest; or will even invade the garret of 
the farmhouse. 
Charm of the flying-squirrel. Strike one of 
‘these tall stubs a smart blow with an ax or stone 
and the squirrels will: come pouring out of their 
hole and go sailing away to neighboring trees 
like birds. They alight near the bases of the 
trunks and scamper upward to prepare for an- 
other glide, but unless sharply pursued will 
quickly turn to have a curious look at their dis- 
turber. Their ‘‘flights’’.are made upon the 
parachute of loose skin which extends in a furry 
fold down to the feet, and is further supported 
by a slender curved bone hinged to the back of 
the wrist, while the flat tail acts as both balancer 
and rudder as in a bird. When starting from 
a high perch, and going down hill, they may 
sail 200 or 300 yards; but have little or no 
power of deviating from the straight line of the 
intended leap, yet make a quick upward curve 
as they alight. Audubon and Bachman have 
given a delightful account of their gambols on 
