SQUIRRELS, GOOD AND BAD 141 
summer evenings near Philadelphia, about 
1840: 
“‘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 its 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. . . . Crowds of these little 
creatures joined in these sportive gambols; there 
could not have been less than 200. Scores of them 
would leave each tree at the same moment, and cross 
each other, gliding like spirits through the air, seem- 
ing to have no other object in view than to indulge a 
playful propensity.’’ 
Family life of the flying-squirrel. Not very 
much is known of the winter life of the 
ordinary or southern flying-squirrels, but they 
seem to retire to their warm nests as soon as 
cold weather comes, and to stay there until 
spring. This would mean hibernation, or else 
the storing of food in their holes; and that 
the latter is their habit would seem indicated 
