102 
and inter-orbital region more constricted, the orbital fossa, auditory 
bulle, and ears longer. Premolars, two; the first minute. Limbs united 
by a furred membrane, which is an expansion of the skin of the sides of 
the bedy, supported in front by a slender bone articulating with the 
carpus, and directed backwards. Tail two thirds as long as head and 
body, broad and flat, longer hairs directed laterally, thus serving as a 
rudder in their flight-like leaps, and with the special membrane support- 
ing the body in air in their short flights from trse to tree. Sciuropterus 
may be regarded as a modified form of Sciurus, possessing rudimentary 
powers of flight, through the support of the parachute-like expansion of 
the skin of the sides of the body and the broad, flat tail. Pelage dense, 
soft, and furry; ears large, in conformity with their nocturnal habits. 
Colors, some soft, dull shade of brown above, and whitish beneath. 
Animals of small size, and crepuscular or nocturnal habits. 
This genus is represented in North America by a single species of wide 
distribution; Scvuropterus volans takes its place in Kurope; several species 
occur in Asia. | 
SCIUROPTERUS VOLUCELLA (Pall.) Geoff. 
Var. volucella Allen. 
SOUTHERN FLYING SQUIRREL, 
1743. Sciurus volans, Catesby, Carolina, ii, 1748, 76,77, pl. lxxvi, lxxvii.— 
Brisson, Quad., 157.—Linn., Syst. Nat., 1, 1766, 88 (in part). 
1788. Sewwrus volucella, Pallas, Nov. Spec. Glires, 1788, 351, 353.—Gmelin, 
Syst. Nat., 1, 1788, 153;—Schreber, Sdugt., iv, 1792, 808, pl. 
ecxxii.—Shaw, Gen. Zodl., 11, 1801, 155, pl. civ. - 
1818. Pteromys volucellu, Desm., Nouv. Dict. Hist. Nat., xxvii, 1818, 406; 
Mamm., ii, 1822, 348.--Harlan, Faun. Amer., 1825, 187.—Griff, 
Cuv., v, 1827, 259.—Fischer, Syn. Mamm., 1829, 365.—Godman, 
Amer. Nat. Hist., 11, 146—Yarrell, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 
1830-1, 38 (anatomy).—‘“‘D. W. C.,” Loud. Mag. Nat. Hist., ix, 
1836, 569 (habits)—Emmons, Quad. Mass., 1840, 69.—Thomp., 
Hist. Vermont, 1842, 47.—DeKay, Zool. N. York, 1, 1842, 65, pl. 
Xvi, fig. 2— Wagner, Suppl. Schreb., i1i, 1843, 231.—Schinz, Syn. 
Mamm., ii, 1845, 54.—Aud. & Bach., Quad. N. A., i, 1849, 216, 
69, pl. xxviii—Kenn., Pat. Off Report Agric., 1856-57, 69, pl. 
viii.—Baird, Mamm. N. A, 1857, 286.—Thomas, Trans. III. 
Agric. Soc., iv, 1860, 657.—Hall, Canadian Nat. and Geol., 1861, 
292 —Cooper, Proc. Cal. Acad., 11, 1861.—Tomes, Proc. Zodl. Soc. 
Lond., 1861, 281 (Guatemala).—Maximilian, Wieg. Arch. f. Na- 
turgesch., 1861, 77.—- Allen, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zodl., 1, 1869, 224.— 
Gilpin, Proc. and Trans. Nova Scotia Inst. Nat. Sci., 11, pl. 11, 
