them in the air.

They are true squirrels, however, living upon trees, as the common
squirrels do, and looking very like the latter, notwithstanding their
winged legs. In one point, however, they differ essentially from the
common squirrels; and that is, they are _nocturnal_ in their habits. In
the daytime they are never seen, except by accident; but in the
twilight, and during a clear night, they may be observed making their
long leaps from tree to tree, through the glades or along the edges of
the forest. There are several species inhabiting the forests of
America, and of late California has yielded several new ones. In the
tropical forests of America there are several large species, and the Old
World has its flying squirrel in the Polatouka, which inhabits the pine
forests of Northern Europe and Asia.

The largest species of these singular quadrupeds appears to belong to
the Oriental Islands--to Java, Sumatra, the Philippines, and Moluccas,
or Spice Islands, as also to Japan. The great Teguan, or flying
squirrel of the Moluccas, is in reality as large as a cat!

The singular Ay-ay of Madagascar is sometimes classed among the
squirrels and sometimes among the lemurs. It certainly bears a great
resemblance to the squirrel family; but the habits of all animals
belonging to Madagascar are so little known that it is difficult to
assign them to that exact genus in which Nature intended they should be
placed.

CHAPTER TWELVE.

HARES, RABBITS, AND OTHER RODENTS.

The Hare, and its very near congener, the Rabbit, are animals too
well-known to need description; but it is necessary to say that, besides
the species of both, peculiar to Great Britain, there are many other
kinds in other parts of the world. Even in Britain itself, including
Ireland, there are several distinct sorts both of hares and rabbits; for
the Irish hare is distinct, being a larger, stronger, and even swifter
animal than the English hare, and having many other points peculiar to
it. Moreover, in the northern and mountainous parts of Scotland there
is found the Varying or Alpine Hare, whose fur changes in the winter
season to a snowy whiteness. But I may here remark, that the Irish hare
also possesses this singular power of transformation, since upon the
mountains of the north, especially upon the Mourne range, in county
Down, _white_ hares have been frequently observed. Is this the Irish
hare turned white, or the true Alpine hare of Pal