in fome parts ; and the breaft and belly are of a 
yellowifh white. The length, from the riofe to 
the tail, is about eighteen inches ; and the tail is 
fifteen. , 
This fpecies inhabits Java, and fome other In- 
dian iflands; leaps from tree to txee with ama- 
zing velocity J and catches hold of the boughs 
with it's tail. 
Thefe animals vary niuch in fize. Linnseus 
defcribes one about the magnitude of the com- 
mon Squirrel ; and Sir Edward Michelbourne 
killed one, in an Oriental ifle, that was larger than 
a hare. Nieuhoff defcribes this creature under 
the appellation of the flying-cat. 
A variety of this kind is found near Severn Ri- 
ver, in the fouthern parts of Hudfon's Bay. 
Squirrel, Flying; the Sciurus Volans of 
Linnaeus. This little animal, which is frequentl/ 
imported into England, is confiderably le's tlian 
the common Squirrel. It's ftcin, which is very 
foft, is elegantly adorned with a dark fur in fome 
parts of the body, and a light grey in others. It 
has round naked ears; large prominent fparkling 
eyes; and very {harp teeth, with which it gnaws 
any fubftance very expeditiouOy. It has a lateral 
membrane, extending from the fore to the hind 
legs; and it's tail is cov;:red with long hair, hori- 
zontally difpofed. When it does not leap, it's 
tail lies ciofe on it's back; but when it is inclined 
to exert it's powers, it's tail moves backwards and 
forwards from fide to fide. 
This animal will dart twenty yards from one 
tree to another, at a fingle bound: but it finks 
confiderably before it can reach the place it aims 
at; and, apparently fenfible of this, it mounts the 
higher in proportion to the diftance it intends to 
reach. It is aiTifted in this fpring by a very pecu- 
liar formation of the fl-cin or membrane which ex- 
tends from the fore feet to the hinder; fo that, 
when it ftretches it's fore legs forward, and it's 
liind legs backward, this Ikin is extended between 
them, fomewhat after the manner of the bat. 
Thus the little animal keeps buoyant in the air 
till the force of it's firft impulfe is fpent; but, as it 
is incapable of renewing it, a fpeedy defcent is in- 
evitable. The Flying Squirrel, however, does 
not move like a bird, by repeated ftrokes of it's 
wings; but rather in the manner of a paper-kite, 
fupported by the expanfion of the furface of it's 
body, which renders it fpecifically lighter than it 
otherwife would be. 
This animal inhabits North America and New 
Spain. A variety, differing chiefly in colour, is 
alfo found in Lapland, Finland, Poland, and Ruf- 
fia. Like the com.mon Squirrel, it is ufually feen 
on the tops of high trees ; but, though better cal- 
culated for leaping, it is of a more torpid difpofi- 
tion, and feldom exerts it's powers: it therefore 
frequently becomes the prey of the martin and 
pole- cat. It does not appear fond of almonds 
and nuts, like moft other Squirrels; but it's fa- 
vourite food confifts of the fprouts of the birch, and 
the cones of the pine. Though eafily tamed, it 
embraces the firft opportunity of deferring. When 
domcfticated, it is fed with bread and fruits; and 
generally fleeps by day, though more fprightly 
nd agile by niglit. 
Thefe creatures ufually produce three or four 
young at a time. 
Squirrel, Hooded; the Mus Volans of Lin- 
nseus. This fpecies is a native of Virginia; and, 
according to Seba, has the lateral membrane be- 
ginning at the chin and ears, and extending, as in 
Vol. IL 
, ... : s f A , 
the Flying Squirrel, from the fore to the hind 
legs. It is of a reddifh colour above; cinereous, 
and tinged with yellow, beneath. It's ears are 
large and oval. 
STAG, OR RED DEER, or HART; the 
Cervus Elaphus of Linnaeus'. A fpecies of deer, 
with long upright horns, much branched; and 
(lender, fliarp brow-antlers. 
The Stag is generally of a reddifli brown-co- 
lOur, with fome black about the face; and a black 
lift down the hind part of the neck, and between 
the fhoulders. It is common to Europe, Bar- 
bary, the north of Afia, and North America. 
It proves furious and dangerous in rutting-time. 
which is in the month of Auguft. The flefli is 
rank and coarfe; the fl<in is adapted for many ufe- 
ful purpofes; and the horns yield hartfnorn. 
STAG-BEETLE; the Lucanus Cervus of 
Linnasus. Lucanus, according to this great na- 
turalifl's diftribution, is a genus of the coleoptera 
order of infefts : the charaders of which are; that 
the antenna are elisvated; and the maxillje ex- 
tended, exferted, and dentated. It comprehends 
feven fpecies; one of which is the Stag-Beetle^ or 
cervus volans. 
STAG-WORMS. A fpecies of Wornis dif- 
cOvered by Reaumur, which originate from the 
eggs of a fly, and are lodged behind and under 
the palate of the deer's mouth. Thefe Worms 
are always found in confiderable numbers toge- 
ther, contained in fiefliy bags, placed as the al- 
monds of the ears in the human fpecies. Huntf- 
men arc well acquainted v/ith their exiftence; and 
are of opinion that they occafion the falling off 
of the creature's horns; but this is a vulgar error. 
Reaumur has fufhciently proved that thefe 
Worms remain where they are firft found, till they 
arrive at a ftate to change into flies ; to whofe eggs 
they owe their origin, and whofe forms they at laft 
afl"ume. 
STANNEL. An Englifh appellation for a 
fpecies of hawkj more commonly called the kef- 
trel. 
STAPHYLINUS. A genus of the coleop- 
tera order of infe6ls. The charadters of which 
are : the antenna are (lender and filiform; the ely- 
tra are dimidiated; the alas are covered; and the 
tail is fimple, projefting two oblong veficlesi 
Linnseus enumerates twenty-fix fpecies, diftin- 
guifhed from each other by the colour of the fe- 
veral parts of the body. 
STAR-FISH, ASTERIAS, or STELLA 
MARINA. A genus of naked infe6ls, in form 
of a radiated ftar. The mouth is fituated in the 
centre, on the under part; and the anus in the 
centre, on the upper part. The tentaciila are ex- 
tremely numerous, and in a manner cover either ' 
the whole upper furface of the body, or the extre- 
mities of the ramifications. 
This genus Contains a great variety of fpecies, 
which are diftinguifhed according to the number 
of their rays. Their fizes are alfo extremely diffe- 
rent: for the largeft, or great Magellanic Star- 
Fifh, forms a circle of three feet in diameter when 
it's rays are fully extended ; while there are fome 
lefs than one inch in diameter. 
According to the Linnsean diftribution, the 
Star-Fifh, Sea-ftar, or Afterias, is a genus of the 
moUufca order of worms: the characters of which 
are; that the body is deprefled, covered with a 
coriaceous coat, and furniflied with tentacula; and 
that the mouth is in the centre, and has five valves. 
Linnseus has enumerated fi.xteen fpecies of this 
4 I genus; 
