A YOUNG NATURALIST. 237 



" As a matter of fact, they do not fly at all ; but the membrane 

 which unites their limbs acts like a parachute in keeping them 

 up in the air, and materially assists them in some of their pro- 

 digious leaps." 



" Can they run as fast as squirrels % " 



" Nothing like it ; they do not, indeed, often come down to 

 the ground ; but their activity on trees renders them not un- 

 worthy of their family." 



" 1 thought," observed Lucien, " that bats were, the only 

 mammals that could fly." 



" There is also the '^Yxws, "plialanger " observed my friend ; "an 

 animal of the marsupial order, which is a native of Australia, 

 and somewhat resembles the opossum. It is said that when it 

 catches sight of a man, it hangs itself up by the tail and does not 

 dare to move ; but I think this story will do to go along with 

 I'Encuerado's about the glass-spider." 



The Indian started off straight to the bivouac, and I led my 

 companions by the side of the stream, admiring as we passed 

 some magnificent trees. One of these was covered with brown 

 fruit, with whitish insides, which had a rather nice acidulated 

 taste. I hastened to pick half a dozen of them, knowing what a 

 treat they would be to my servant. 



As we went on, the banks of the stream gradually became 

 lower, and ere long a lake, deliciously shaded by cypresses, 

 poplars, oaks, and ebony trees, opened to our view. 



I sat down upon a rock, with Sumichrast and Lucien by my 

 side, and from whence my eye could wander all over the blue and 

 transparent water. We kept silent, being charmed with the 

 smiling grandeur of this retired corner of the world. Birds 

 came flying by, and, settling down close to us, warbled for an 

 instant,— then again took flight, after having given us time to 

 admire the rich colours of their plumage. The motionless water 

 was covered by long-legged insects with transparent wings, 

 which seemed to skim over the polished surface as if impelled by 

 some invisible agency. Sometimes an azure and purple attired 

 dragonfly flitted by, and all the insects fled at its approach, Uke 

 sparrows before a hawk. A brilliantly-coloured butterfly dashed 



