15 
as may attack them, thus forming a terrible means of defense 
to the animal. The ease with which these spines are detached 
has, without doubt, given rise to the fable that the Porcupine 
was able to shoot forth its quills, like arrows, against its foes. 
The Flying Squirrel (^Pteromys volucella) is a pretty little 
Rodent found throughout the United States, east of the Mis- 
souri river. Its aerial progression is merely a leap, prolonged 
by means of a fold of skin stretching between the fore and 
hind limbs on each side, which expands and bears the animal 
up for a short distance, after the manner of a kite. 
The Vulpine Phalanger {Phalangista vulpina) and the 
Yellow-bellied Phalanger {Pelideus flaviventer) are small, 
vegetable-eating marsupials (see page 41) from Australia; 
they live almost entirely among the trees and are strictly 
nocturnal, being found in the day time with heads bent down 
and noses stowed away between their forefeet. 
the common cassowary 
