The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-10-31
THEY FLY WITHOUT WINGS.
Queer Animals Who Perform Very
Clever and Curious Feats.

queer animals VINO Perform Very
Clever and Curious Feats.
From the New York Journal.
The men who are endeavoring to solve
the great problem of learning to fly should
not fix their attention too exclusively upon
birds. 1t has long been a Fundamental
principle with them that if you want to
fly you must study the bird.
There are many animals that can fly.
but do not belong to the bird family. They
are, indeed, not such experts as the
feathered ones. but their efforts must be
considered very remarkable and worthy
OF imitation by man, who cannot fly at all
What is peculiarly noteworthy and is
not generally understood is that these
animals manage to fly without wings
This proves that the bird does not pos
sess the only organs of flight
Many mammals, members of the same
order of creation as man, possess the
power of flying without wings Among
them are not included the bats, which
really possess wings.
very pretty and curious species of fly
ing animal bears the scientific name Of
galeopithaeca. They are also called the
flying lemurs, and come between the true
lemurs and the bats in the geological or
der. A loose flap of skin extends along
each side from the toes Of their fore paws
to those of their hind paws and thence to
the tall 1o
When they fly they stretch out their
limbs and form sort of parachute They
are extremely sportive, and delight to
display their powers. They cling to the
tops of high trees and then jump off into
space, flying hundreds of feet. They can
easily pass from tree to tree and cross
rivers and valleys. They 90 not fly in
the strictest sense of the word, for they
do 81 ..tr IL. -. I..A
very well. They move in an almost hori-
zontal line. They are nocturnal animals
and only fly by night. 1t is a treat to see
them.
The pteromys, or flying squirrels, live in
the depths of Asiatic forests. Their
movements are so rapid that one can
hardly follow them. They also have par
achutes joining their hind and fore legs.
When in flight their tails serve as a rud-
der, and enables them to change their
course
The Siberian polatouches have similar
ways. These little rodents, who are only
about eight inches long, live in pine for
ests. On the ground they are very clumsy.
because their parachute binders their
walk, like long dress. But in the trees
they are thoroughly at home. They bear
a close resemblance to our squirrels in
their habits.
The female uses her parachute to shell
ter her young, and IL serves the purpose
admirably. She also possesses a ventral
pouch similar TO that of the kangaroo
In which she keeps her young
The flying squirrel is very pretty, with
green back and yellow stomach. 1t
catches insects In its flight.
The naturalist Brehm relates that one
of these animals was brought home from
New England In ship. He was very
friendly and playful, and delighted to
spring from mast to mast. On one occa-
sion the ship changed its course sudden
ly while he was in the air. Every one
thought he would fall into the sea, but
he easily changed his own course and
regained the ship.
Among other animals with similar pow
ers are the petaurists. who have prehen-
sive tails. and the acrobats, or flying mice
Flying reptiles are rare, but they exist
One example is the flying dragon of the
Sunda island. in the Malay archipelago.
This little reptile is a sort of lizard His
ribs project beyond his sides. and the skin
with them. When he stretches out these
ribs he is like an opened umbrella. He
reposes TRANQUILITY on the branch of a tree.
looking for attractive insects. When he
sees one he springs into the air, catches
It as he goes. and allghts on another
branch. He does not seem to enjoy flying
as much as the squirrel
A Russian naturalist, DIR. Ostroounoff.
recently discovered flying crustaeean, an
animal OF the same order as the lobster.
II was very small, however.