CLASS I. MAMMALIA: ORDER 7. RODENTIA. 
353 
Greek pteron, wing, and mus^ a mouse, and is used to designate certain animals called Taguans^ 
and known as Flying- Squirrels, but which might very properly be called Flying-Marmots. They 
are found in Asia and the adjacent isles, the flying-squirrels similar to those common in Amer- 
ica, called Assapans, being of a different genus, ^cmro^j^erMS, which will be hereafter noticed. 
^ The form of the head in the genus Pteromys is like that of the marmots, but the ears are 
smaller, the body is more slender, and the tail is long and plume-like. A thin membrane, cov- 
ered with fur, extends from the fore to the hind-legs on each side, this being spread out and serv- 
ing as a kind of parachute to support them in leaping from tree to tree, by which means they 
perform a kind of flight. They are very lively, running about on the trees Avith great vivacity, 
in this respect resembling the squirrels. Most of them are distinguished by the brilliancy of their 
hues. Their size is that of the marmots, and flying -marmots would in fact be their appropriate 
title, the term fl/ying-sqicirrel heing more descriptive of the smaller species. 
The Great Flting-Squibrel, F sagitta, is the Flying- Cat of NieuhoiT; the Felis volans of 
Brisson, and the Taguan or Grand Fcurcuil Volant oi Buff'on. It has a small rounded head; 
cloven upper lip; small blunt ears; two small warts at the outmost corner of each eye, with hairs 
growing out of them; neck short; four toes on the fore-feet, and instead of a thumb, a slender 
bone, two and a half inches long, lodged under the lateral membrane, serving to stretch it out; 
thence to the hind-legs extends the membrane, which is broad, and a continuation of the skin of 
the sides and belly; the membrane extends along the fore-legs, and stretches out near the joint 
in a winged form; five toes on the hind-feet, and on all the toes sharp, compressed, bent claws; 
tail covered with long hairs disjjosed horizontally; color of the head, body, and tail, a bright bay^ 
m some parts inclining to orange; breast and belly of a yellowish-white; length, from nose to 
tail, eighteen inches; tail, fifteen inches. This species inhabits Java and others of the Indian 
Islands. It leaps from tree to tree as if it flew ; and it is said will catch hold of the boughs with 
its tail. 
The Brilliant Pteromys, P. nitidus, is of a deep chestnut color above and bright red below; 
the body is fifteen inches long, and the tail seventeen inches. It is found in Java and Borneo. 
The P. genilahris, P. elegans, and P. lepidus, resemble the P. sagitta, and are found in Java. 
The P . p)etaurista is found in the Moluccas and Philippines; the P. inornatus in Cashmere. All 
these animals appear to repose in holes in the trees during the day, and at night to go forth and 
feed on fruits and vegetables. Some of them hibernate, but their habits are not fully known,, 
and there are doubtless several species not yet verified. 
Genus SCIUROPTERUS : Sciuropterus. — This includes the Assapans, or true Flying-Squir- 
rels, which have a form resembling the common squirrels, with a lateral membrane similar to- 
that of the Pteromys. By means of this they make enormous leaps, sometimes of fifty yards or 
more, from tree to tree, usually at first descending, and then rising and alighting, in the manner 
of birds about to terminate their flight. They are easily distinguished from the Pteromys by the- 
naturalist: the eyes are remarkably full; the cranium is formed like that of the squirrels, and not 
like that of the marmots; the side membranes terminate near the Avrist with a rounded lobe, 
while those of the pteromys end in a projecting point; and finally, the molar teeth resemble those 
of the squirrels more than those of the pteromys, having the sinuosities of the enamel much more 
complicated. Species are found in the temperate parts of Europe, Asia, and America, but not in 
the Asiatic isles, the chief seat of the flying-marmots. 
The MiNENE, or European Flying-Squirrel, S. Sibiricus, called by some naturalists Sciur- 
opterus Polatouche, is the Sciurus volans of Linnaeus; the Polatucka and Letaga of the Russians; 
Polatouche of the French; Kbnig der Gra.uwerke, or King of the Squirrels, of the Germans. 
The eyes are prominent, the lids being edged with black; the membranes extend to the base of 
the fore-feet, forming a large wing-like expansion on each side; tail full and rounded at the ex- 
tremity; body above of a fine gray color; beneath, pure white; total length about ten inches, of 
which the tail, measured to the end of the hair, is somewhat more than five. It is a native of 
Finland, Lapland, the Russian dominions from Livonia to the river Kolyma, or Kowyona, in the 
north-east of Siberia. This species haunts the woody, mountainous country, feeding on the buds 
and fruit of the birch-trees, and on the cones of the fir tribe. It is a solitary animal, and does 
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