Fes., 1912. Mammats oF ILLINOIS AND WISCONSIN — Cory. 105 
ing Squirrels, screech-owls, and leather-winged Bats running from it. 
We caught several of each, and one of the Flying Squirrels was kept as 
a pet in a cage for six months. The various apartments of the box 
were stored with hickory-nuts, chestnuts, acorns, corn, etc., intended 
for the winter supply of food. There must have been as many as 
twenty Flying Squirrels in the box, as many bats, and we know there 
were six screech-owls. The crevices of the house were always in- 
habited by Squirrels. The docility of the one we kept as a pet was 
remarkable; although he was never lively and playful in the day-time, 
he would permit himself to be handled and spread out at the pleasure 
of anyone. We frequently took him from the cage, laid him on the 
table or on one hand, and exposed the extension of his skin, smoothed 
his fur, put him in our pocket or bosom, etc., he pretending all the time 
to be asleep.”’ 
Kennicott says: “Its habitat being strictly among trees, it cannot, 
of course, abide on the prairies, nor is it found generally in our smaller 
prairie groves; though it is as abundant in the larger woods of Northern 
Illinois as elsewhere. The Flying Squirrel is as active as the true 
species, but unlike the rest of the family, it is nocturnal, and does not 
move about by day, except at times in cloudy weather. It prefers 
the twilight or darkness, when it leaves its retreat for amusement or 
in search of food, seldom travelling on the ground, but sailing grace- 
fully from tree to tree, running up towards the top of one and alighting 
lower upon the trunk of another. It is gregarious, living in hollow 
trees in large companies. It usually prevails in greater numbers, 
wherever found at all, than is generally supposed. If, in passing 
through the woods, anyone will strike the sides of old hollow trees, 
he will frequently see a number of these singular and beautiful little 
animals rush out of a hole and sail off to the neighboring trees” (J. c., 
p. 70-71). 
When a nest is found the old ones are easily taken in box traps, 
being seemingly very unsuspicious, but without some good reason for 
so doing it seems a pity to deprive such beautiful little animals of 
their freedom. 
Flying Squirrels are practically omnivorous, as among other things 
they eat nuts, seeds, insects, birds’ eggs and often young birds. 
As to whether the Flying Squirrels hibernate in the strict sense of 
the word I am somewhat in doubt, although it is generally believed by 
naturalists that they probably do, to a more or less degree, depending 
upon the severity of the winter. It is well known that they remain 
in their nests during very cold weather, but their sleep is apparently 
not very sound, for if a tree in which they have their winter home be 
