THE EGYPTIAN JERBOA 20I 



London — figured by Edwards in his *' Gleanings 

 of Natural History," in 1758. About thirty years 

 afterwards Sonnini attempted to bring six over : 

 but three died, one after another, before he had 

 left Alexandria, and two more perished during 

 a stormy passage to Rhodes, whilst the last 

 survivor was believed to have been killed by 

 cats after its arrival at that island. One 

 therefore can well believe that Sonnini credited 

 the Egyptian jerboa with a very frail constitution, 

 and can understand his careful directions to 

 those who might subsequently endeavour to 

 bring such (supposed) delicate subjects to 

 Europe. In later times, however, dozens of 

 these little creatures have been safely imported : 

 a male jerboa was received at the London 

 Zoo in September, 1861, being the forerunner of 

 a long list of specimens since exhibited there : 

 some young ones were born in the Gardens on 

 April 27th, 1 87 1. At the present day these 

 animals are captured in great quantities for sale 

 in Europe as pets, and may be seen in the dealers' 

 shops. The following account is from observa- 

 tions on about a dozen individuals living in 

 captivity during 1903-04. 



After leaving its sleeping-apartment at twilight, 

 the jerboa sits quietly outside its box for about ten 

 minutes or longer — wide awake, but motionless, 

 as if meditating. The animal then commences 



