The Flying Squirrel 59 



forest, where the beechnuts and chestnuts were plenti- 

 ful, was only twenty rods, and it was an easy twenty 

 rods, for the squirrels made use of a fence and an 

 orchard. 



By the time the frost had touched the leaves in 

 the forest, leaving them russet, red, and gold, the old 

 instinct had conquered the few months of civilizing 

 influences, and the whole family of our flying squirrels 

 must have visited the forest nightly, judging by the 

 quantities of nuts that were stored in boxes in the 

 attic and in the stub of the old maple tree. The 

 family lived happily together that winter, but the 

 next spring most of the young ones sought homes of 

 their own, most likely in the forest near by. Other 

 young were reared in the attic and the old tree, but 

 the following August they aU mysteriously disap- 

 peared, both old and young, probably obeying some 

 migratory instinct. It is worthy of note that the 

 autumn following their disappearance the nut crop 

 was a complete failure in that immediate vicinity. 

 Is there any connection between the two circum- 

 stances? If so, flying squirrels are as wise as they 

 are beautiful. 



Besides nuts, buds, and various roots the flying 

 squirrels, both those born in captivity and the wild 

 ones, are particularly fond of meat. Without doubt 



