The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-02-03
THE FLYING SQUIRREL.
E'DaintieSt an

''DaintieSt and most rarely seen of all his tribe, is the flying squirrel, the connecting link between the quadru- peds and the birds" writes Arthur F. Rice in ''Four-Footed Folk" an ar ticle appearing in the January num- Der of Boys Life, the Boy Scout Mag azine. Soft and downy as any of his feathered congeners, he might easily be mistaken for one of them as he skins from tree to tree. We do not often get a view of hinl because he is a nocturnal animal and few know where to look for him in the daytime. Yet he has been long known, for it is recorded that in 1924 Governor Smith of Virginia, de- scribed him as a small beast they call assapanick, but we call the flying squirrel, because spreading their les and so stretching the largeness of their skins that they nave been seen to fly 30 or 40 yards
 There are more of these little fel- lows in the woods that one would suppose and they can be found with out difficulty in any old forest where there are numerous decayed trees. Their home is generally in some old yellow perch or beech stub or tall stump, and is located near the top The entrance is a small round hoie, usually on the south or east side. In situation and appearance it Is 50 similar to the home of the wood becker as to be easily mistaken for it, and it is more than likely that in some instances it has served as such for both, the squirrels taking pos session after the bird han matched her brood and vacated the tenement Whether the squirrels select these comfortable but somewhat shaky quarters because the wood is soft and easily worked, or because the in security of their abode acts, in a measure. as protection from their enemies, I am unable to say. They seem to be aware, however, that their house is liable at any time to be 1 down about their ears and appreciate | the necessity of being ready to move out quickly. It requires only a slight ! jar or blow on the base of ths build I ing to create consternation among l the family, in the top story. First | a sharp little head, with black beads as eyes, pokes itself out Of the win l dow and takes observation as to the ! nature and motive of this uncere-- | nfonfous knocking. If the jarrtng 1. 1 continued, one after another the mouse-1ike little creatures hurried1y | l rections-
 '"rhey do not fly as birds do; ther, l is no Tapping of their wings, whict
 are merely an extension of the ski: | from the sides of their bodies to thei.
 feet; nor do they possess the power l of flying upward. They simply sai | down to the base Of some tree con l veniently near, run up to get a fresI
 start and again fly downward. I
 closely pursued they usually run III
 to the top of some large tree an
 hide there. They breed abundantly
 and it is not uncommon to find o
 old and young, in a single nes
 They are the least obtrusive an
 noisy of squirrel kind, and if yo I seat yourself at night under the Ire
 in which they live. you will merel
 hear a few mouse1ike squeaks as the l frolic and chase one another abou
 above your head. There is nothiu
 softer than their fur, and some coun
 try people say 1t is a sure cure fo
 the earache. Fortunately this is nc
 a universally accepted fact"