THE SQUIRREL PETAURUS. 75 
nestled in the hollows of the trees ; but becomes 
animated as night advances, and skims through the 
air, supported by its lateral expansions, half leaping, 
half flying, from branch to branch, feeding upon leaves 
and upon insects. This peculiar mode of locomotion 
can scarcely be considered as a true flight, inasmuch 
as the cutaneous folds which serve the purposes of 
wings seem rather destined for the mere support of 
the animal in its long and apparently desperate leaps, 
than for raising it in the air and directing its course 
towards any given object. For this latter purpose 
they are indeed but little fitted by their structure, the 
wdnai of proper muscles in a great measure incapa- 
citating them from performing such offices as are 
dependent on volition. It may be doubted, however, 
whether these animals are entirely destitute of the 
power of exercising their will in their flight-like leaps. 
For the following anecdote bearing upon this subject 
we are indebted to our friend Mr. Broderip, who related 
it to us on unquestionable authority. 
On board a vessel sailing off* the coast of New Hol- 
land was a Squirrel Petaurus, which was permitted to 
roam about the ship. On one occasion it reached the 
mast-head, and as the sailor, who was dispatched to 
bring it down, approached, made a spring from aloft 
to avoid him. At this moment the ship gave a heavy 
lurch, which, if the original direction of the little crea- 
ture's course had been continued, must have plunged 
it into the sea. All who witnessed the scene were in 
pain for its safety ; but it suddenly appeared to check 
itself and so to modify its career that it alighted safely 
on the deck. 
Does not this fact demonstrate something like the 
existence in these organs of a certain degree of subser- 
