488 



THE DORMOUSE. 



ground upon its feet it is guarded by a thick covering of stiff, bristly hairs, which defend the soles 

 of the feet from injury, and", moreover, are useful in giving a firm hold upon the ground when 

 the animal is in the act of making one of its extraordinary bounds. It is a lively and playful 

 animal, delighting to bask itself in the sun near the entrance of its burrows, and to divert 



itself by occasional gambols with its compan- 

 ions. Although it makes these visits to the 

 open air for the sake of enjoying the warm 

 beams of the sun, the Gerboa is a nocturnal 

 animal, and feeds only by night. 



By the united powers of its teeth and 

 claws it can drive its tunnel through impedi- 

 ments which would baffle any ordinary animal ; 

 for it can not only cut its way through the 

 hardest sand, but is even able to gnaw a pas- 

 sage through the thin layer of stone which 

 lies beneath the sand. The food of these ani- 

 mals consists chiefly of roots and similar sub- 

 stances, which it digs out of the earth, but it 

 also feeds on various kinds of grain. 



The generic term " Dipus," or two-footed, 

 has been given to the true Gerboas because they 

 press their fore-feet so closely to their breasts 

 while they leap that they appear to be entirely 

 destitute of those limbs, and only to possess the 

 two long hind legs. All the animals that belong 

 to this genus have five toes on their fore-feet and 

 only three on the hinder feet. The hair of the 

 tail is arranged in a double row, after the man- 

 ner which is scientifically called " distichous." 



GERBOA. Dipus agypttus. 



THERE are many species of Jerboidse in- 

 habiting different countries, all of which are very similar in shape and habits. Among these may 

 be noticed the ALACTAGA, or Jumping Rabbit of Siberia, and the GERBILLES of Africa and India. 



THE family Zapodidse embraces those little forms called Jumping Mice. It is represented 

 by a single species, the Jumping Mouse ; Deer Mouse (Zapus Tiudsonicus}. This odd little 

 creature was first brought to notice by Pennant during his extended Northern tour. According 

 to De Kay it is " mimerous in all parts of New York State." The Indians call it WaJi-peJi-sous, 

 or the animal that jumps like a deer. It is said to leap ten or twelve feet at a bound. It pro- 

 duces four young at a birth, and three litters in a year. The little creatures are sometimes 

 turned out of their homes during the haying time, and a common sight is that of the mother 

 with four little ones hanging to her teats. 



NEXT in order to the Gerboas is placed the small group of animals which are sufficiently 

 familiar by the name of Dormice. This term signifies " Sleepy Mouse," and is most appro- 

 priate to the lethargic little creatures, which spend the greater part of their time in somnolency. 

 One of these animals, the LOIRE, or FAT DORMOUSE, is celebrated in classical literature as 

 being in great request among the luxurious Romans as an article of diet. For this purpose the 

 Loire was carefully fattened, being placed in certain receptacles, which were called Gliraria, 

 from the Latin word fflis, which signifies a dormouse. The Loire is found in almost all the 

 warmer portions of Europe, but is seldom seen at any great elevation above the level of the sea. 



THE LEROT, or GARDEN DORMOUSE, inhabits the same localities as the Loire, but its 

 flesh is not eatable like that of the Fat Dormouse, although it resembles it very nearly in 

 every point but size. 



