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Candidate Natural Area because of its Great Blue Heron Rookery and the importance of the nearby tidal flats to resident and migratory waterfowl, cormorants, osprey, gulls, terns and shorebirds. The Natural Areas Advisory Committee objected to the proposed develop- ment because they did not feel that the impact of such a cottage subdivision development would be restricted to Oulton's Island

but that resulting boat, vehicular and foot traffic by leisure seekers and their pets would cause severe damage to the flora and fauna on the nearby tidal flats and sanddune systems. They felt that no development should occur on this or any of our offshore islands until a detailed biological and physical inventory of their resources is completed. We know so little about these areas and we have so few of them.

The appeal hearing was held on December 10, 1976 in Charlottetown. Submissions were made by the Natural History Society of Prince Edward Island, the Canadian Nature Federation, H.O.P.E. (Help

Our Provincial Environment), The P.E.I. Heritage Foundation, the P.E.I. Fish and Game Association and a telegram from the Canadian Wildlife Federation.

The Land Use Commission upheld the appeal launched by the Natural Areas Advisory Committee and voted to refuse permission for develop- ment. The Commission based its decision on the following grounds:

(1) "The Commission has serious reservations about the feasi- bility of the provisions of necessary services to a sub- division of this size in a location which is separated from the mainland".

(2) "The Commission believes the proposed subdivision would have a detrimental affect on the adjacent sandhills, an extremely fragile area and hence would be an incompatible type of development in the area".

The Canadian Nature Federation generously donated funds to

the N.A.A.C. to cover the cost of legal fees for the appeal hearing. The N.A.A.C. feel that winning this appeal was a major environmental victory for Prince Edward Island because it sets a precedent for future land use decisions by government. Government has begun to acknowledge the value of maintaining a certain level of environmental quality.

Kathy Martin

Natural History Society Representative to:

Natural Areas Advisory Committee

THE FLYING SQUIRREL

The Flying Squirrel is a mild and gentle mammal with special adaptive features that aid in survival and reproduction in its particular environment.

It is an elusive creature with nocturnal and arboreal habits, and is seldom encountered by the average observer. Its habitat is the evergreen forests of the Canadian Zone and locally within the Tran- sition. The favourite environment seems to be mixed wood forest of tall trees, not too dense, with glades and semi-wooded terrain and islands of conifers along river valleys and in highlands.

It is a distinctive, medium sized member of the squirrel family. The only North American squirrel that sleeps during the day and is active at night, and the only one with the unique ability to glide considerable distances through the air from tree to tree. These sailing leaps into the air may span distances of 30 or 40 yards

or more. They are able to do this because they have distensible side membranes, an adaptation developed for this purpose which