MAMMALIA. GLIRES. Flying-Squirrels. 267 



Inhabits the temperate and warmer parts of North America. — Lives in focieties in the woods, feed- 

 ing on fruits and feeds, which it goes in queft of chiefly in the evening and night, and during the day 

 fleeps almoft conftsntly in its neft, which is formed of leaves. This fpecies, which is very eafily and 

 completely tamed) is about five inches long from nofe to rump, with a round tail about an inch lhort- 

 er; the head is thickifh, with large, prominent, black eyes; roundifh, tranfparent, almoft naked ears, 

 of a brownilh afh colour ; the whiikers are black and longer than the head ; the neck ihort. The fin- 

 is very fine and foft, of an afli colour on the upper parts of the body, with white tips ; on the lower 

 parts white in the middle of the belly, and afh coloured all around. The membrane begins at the ears, 

 and is extended to the fore and hind legs, and to the tail ; on the fore legs it adheres as far as the toes, 

 and includes a peculiar bone, which is attached to the wrift, and helps to ftretch it out in flying; and 

 on the hind legs it extends to the ankles. By means of this membrane, when the fore and hind legs 

 are ftretched out, the animal is enabled to fupport itfelf in the air, as if flying, for a confiderable way ; 

 and fwims nearly in the fame manner. 



2. Virginian Flying^Squirrel. — S. Pelaurus virginianus. 



Of a reddifh colour on the upper, and yellowifh afh on the lower, parts of the body; 

 the lateral membrane involving the chin and ears. 



Sciurus volans virginianus, or Virginian Flying Squirrel. Seba, Muf. i. t. xliv. — Hex) ' I 

 •rel. Penn. hift. of quad. n. 284. Arc"t. zool. n. 52. 



Inhabits Virginia. — The ears are large and oval ; the lateral membranes begin at the c 



proceeding along the lower parts of the face, involve the fore legs, extending to the hind legs. j. 



is probably only a variety of the preceding. 



3. Labi adore Flying-Squirrel. — 26. S. Petaurus hudfonius. 27. 



Of a reddifh brown colour on the upper parts of the body ; the under parts of a ye!- 

 lowifh white ; the tail hairy and flattened. 



Sciurus volans major, or Larger Flying Squirrel. Pallas, Giir. 354. Forfter, Phil. Tranf. lxii. 

 379.— Severn river Flying Squirrek Penn. hift. of quad. n. 282. Muf. Roy. Soc. Arft. zoo!, 

 n. 53.— Sciurus hudfonius, or Hudfon's Bay Squirrel. Syft. nat. ed. Gmel. i. 153. n. .27. 



Inhabits North America to the fouth of Hudfon's Bay, and about Severn river Is about 



of the Common Squirrel : The membrane does not border the fore legs ; the fur is lonw and full, 

 the under parts of the hairs being afh coloured, and the tips reddifh brown. 



4. European Flying-Squirrel. — 27. S. Petaurus volans. 10. 



Of a pale leaden grey colour on the upper parts of the body; the under parts pure 

 white; the tail is full of hair, and rounded at the ends. Schreber, iv. 813. t. co. 

 Penn. hift. of quad. n. 285-. Arc~t. zool. i. 124. B. Lev. Muf. 



Sciurus volitans, or Flying Squirrel with broad membranes. Faun. Suec. ii. 13. n. 38. MiiC ad. 

 Fr. i. 8.— Sciurus volans, or Flying Squirrel, of a dark afh colour. BrifT. quad. 157. n, : - 



*-• * 2 Sciurua 



