210 GNAWING ANIMALS 



found in California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. High 

 up, on the Olympic Mountains of western Washington, is 

 found still another species of marmot, as large as the Whistler, 

 which is yellowish in summer, and bluish gray in winter. 

 This is called the Olympic Marmot. 



Flying Squirrels 



The Flying Squirrel^ is a very beautiful little creature, 

 but its strictly nocturnal habits, and strong dislike to day- 

 light, almost rob us of its acquaintance. This is to be re- 

 gretted, because it is the only native tree-dwelling quadruped 

 which has been provided by Nature with a parachute, con- 

 sisting of a thin fold of skin stretched between the fore and 

 hind legs, partly to sustain the animal in a long downward 

 flight. Neither the Flying Squirrel nor the flying lemur of 

 the East Indies can actually fly; but they leap from a tree- 

 top, go sailing gently downward and outward, and when 

 near the ground curve upward and are carried by their mo- 

 mentum on an ascending plane to the side of an adjoining 

 tree. Anything like horizontal flight is quite out of the 

 question. 



The Flying Squirrel is one of the most exquisite little 

 mammals in North America. Its legs are very delicately 

 formed; its fur is as fine and soft as silk; and when at rest 

 the edge of its flying membrane looks like the edge of a lace 

 rufile. The head and body (of the Eastern species) is about 

 5 inches long, and the tail 4 inches. These little creatures 

 are quite sociable, and nest in hollow trees, where from five 



^ Sci-u-rop'te-rus vo'lans. 



