202 NATURAL HISTORY ESSAYS 



its toilet, polishing up its little face assiduously 

 with the tiny forepaws, and paying much attention 

 to its tail, the terminal tuft of which is most care- 

 fully smoothed and also parted down the middle 

 in the most comical fashion. The animal also 

 stretches itself at full length on the floor of its 

 cage, the hind legs being first extended far behind 

 the body, and then flexed in a most surprising 

 way, so as to extend beyond the muzzle. Food 

 is the next consideration : millet seed, crushed 

 oats, and green stuff are taken readily, the food 

 being held between the front paws in true rodent 

 fashion. Jerboas drink by rapidly scooping the 

 water into their mouths with the tiny forepaws : 

 this action is very difficult to detect, as it is 

 executed with such rapidity that a careless ob- 

 server would conclude that the animal was lapping 

 with its tongue like a dog. 



After toilet and refreshment comes exercise. 

 The animal runs lightly about its cage, moving each 

 leg alternately with such nimbleness as to recall 

 the graceful walk of some shore-frequenting bird, 

 and abruptly stopping here and there to examine 

 some object in its path. If a scrap of food be 

 found, it squats down to eat without more 

 ado — then flits on like a shadow in the fast- 

 gathering gloom, more like a wee sprite than an 

 animal. With increasing darkness the jerboa 



