486 



EEPOIJT OF STATE (JEOLOGTST. 



from a solid body. The membranes along the Hank act as a para- 

 chute to bear them up, and the broad tail also aids in supporting 

 them in air and doubtless serves as a I'udder, enabling them to 

 alight with more certainty. It is worthy of note that some Asiatic 

 flying squirrels that have slender, round tails have the membrane 

 extended back of the hind limb and joined to the base of the tail. 



The young are born about the first of April. They are usually 

 from two to four in number and are brought forth in a deserted 

 woodpecker's hole or knot hole in a tree. If taken while young 

 they become very tame and make pretty and interesting pets. Prof. 

 F. H. King* writes of some that he had: "I have never known 

 wild animals that became so perfectly familiar and confiding as 

 these young squirrels did; and they seemed to get far more en- 

 joyment from playing upon my person than in any other place, 

 running in and out of my pockets and between my coat and vest. 

 After the frolic was over they always esteemed it a great favor if 

 I would allow them to crawl into my vest in front and go to sleep 

 there where they felt the warmth of my body. When forced to go 

 to sleep by themselves, the attitude taken was amusing. The nose 

 was placed upon the table or other object it happened to be upon, 

 and then it would walk forward over it, rolling itself up until the 

 nose almost protruded between the hind legs; the tail was then 

 wrapped in a horizontal coil about the feet, and the result was an 

 exquisite little ball of life in soft fur which it seemed almost sacri- 

 legious to touch." . 



Even the adult animals reared in the wild state are fond of 

 living near human habitations. Mr. E. J. Chansler writes me: 

 ' ' Some twenty years ago we lived in a little cabin by a creek. While 

 eating supper about dusk, we would hear a racket in the board loft, 

 and presently the flying squirrels would sail down and light on 

 the table and eat with us. They kept this up for quite a while.'* 

 A colony has lived for a long time on the campus of Indiana Uni- 

 versity, apparently as oblivious of the people about them as most 

 of the students are of the presence of the squirrels. They also 

 live near the cabin on the University's property at Mitchell. 



During the winter season they are quite gregarious and num- 

 bers may often be found together. Prof. U. 0. Cox reports finding 

 fifteen in a hollow snag in Randolph County on a Thanksgiving 

 day. (Evermann and Putler.) When asleep in a hollow tree they 

 usually come out if the tree trunk is rapped sharply. Sometimes 

 the entrance to their home is at the ground and I have caught them 



♦ (Quoted ill Aiiicrioan Animals. 



