FAUNA AMERICANA. 1^5 



Genus. 



Gerbilhis, Desm, F. Cuvier. 



Merio7ies, Illiger. 



Mils, Pallas, Pennant 



Diptis, Gmel. Bodd. Schreb. Oliv. Geoff. 



Sciuriis, Erxleb. 



Jerboa. 



CHARACTERS. 



Dental formula.— Teeth 1&.< 



r Incisor 2. 

 'superior 8. -x Canine 0. 



C Molar 6. 



r Incisor 2. 

 .inferior 8. < Canine 0. 



C. Molar 6. 



Molars similar in both jaws ; the first being the 

 largest, having three tubercles, which divide the 

 crown equally lengthwise ; the second having two, 

 and the third, one ; head elongated ; cheeks rather 

 projecting ; ears moderately long, rounded at the 

 extremity ; anterior feet short, with four clawed- 

 toes, and a rudiment of a thumb ; the posterior 

 long, or very long, terminated by clawed-toes, 

 having each its proper metatarsal bone ; tail long, 

 more or less hairy. 



Habit. Living in holes, which they dig in the 

 earth ; leaping forcibly with their hind legs ; one 

 species hibernates. 



Inhabit the temperate climates of both conti- 

 nents. 



Species. 

 1. Gerbilhs canadensis, Desm. Mamm. p. 321. 



