208 EARLY SPRING IN MASSACHUSETTS. 
feet, or it advanced about two feet for every 
foot of descent. After the various attempts in 
the house I was not prepared for this exhibi¬ 
tion. It did not fall heavily as in the house, but 
struck the ground quietly enough, and I cannot 
believe that the mere extension of the skin en¬ 
abled it to skim so far. It must be still further 
aided by its organization. Perhaps it fills it¬ 
self with air first.Kicking over the hem¬ 
lock stump, which was a mere shell with holes 
below, and a poor refuge, I was surprised to find 
a little nest at the bottom, open above just like 
a bird’s nest, a mere bed. It was composed of 
leaves, shreds of bark, and dead pine needles. 
As I remember , this squirrel was not more than 
an inch and a half broad when at rest, but when 
skimming through the air I should say it was 
four inches broad. This is the impression I 
now have. Captain J. Smith says it is reported 
to fly thirty or forty yards. One Gideon B. 
Smith, M. D., of Baltimore, who has had much 
to do with these squirrels, speaks of their curv¬ 
ing upward at the end of their flight to alight 
on a tree trunk, and of their “ flying” into his 
windows. In order to perform all these flights, 
to strike a tree at such a distance, etc., etc., it 
is evident it must be able to steer. I should 
say that mine steered like a hawk, that moves 
without flapping its wings, never being able, 
