OF DIPUS, OR JERBOA. 123 



(Jkn who 13 fettled at Oacida, he alTured me that the 

 fame animal is very common at that place. This Indian, 

 who is a Mohegan, moreover faid, that in his language 

 this Dipus is called fVauh peh fous, which figniiies //r 

 creature thai jumps or Jklps like a deer. This Dipus, as 

 I am informed by a Wyandot-Indian, is common at 

 Sandufky, The Wyandots call it Sii ge ta ah. 



I cannot learn that this animal has been feen to the 

 fouthvvard of Pennfylvania. But 1 do not doubt that it 

 inhabits the fouthern ftatcs. The range, from north to 

 fouth, of moft Ipecies of mammalia appears to me to be 

 much more extenlive than is generally imagined. It has 

 been obferved by naturalifts *, that the Glires have a 

 very extenfive range in the old-world. I think, in the 

 new-world it is ftill more extenfive. Indeed, I am of 

 opinion, that, with refpedl: to the quadrupeds which are 

 not domeflicatcd, the range of any given fpecie« is greater 

 in America than in the countries of the old-world. Per- 

 haps, it would not be a difficult matter to aflign reafons 

 why this is rhe cafe : but that, I prefume, is not necef- 

 fory now. 



The northern parts of Afia and an extenfive tra£t of 

 North-.', merica appear, more than any other parts of the 

 world, to abound with fmall animals of the order Glires. 

 Even in Afia, notwithftanding the zeal and labours of 

 Pallas, and other able naturalifts, it is probable that 

 many fpecies of thel'e animals remain to be difcovered. 

 In America, I prefume, the field for new difcovery is 

 much greater. In the period of one year, we have dif- 

 covered three diftind: fpecies of the genus Dipus, in the 

 vicinity cf Philadelphia. A fourth fpecies has been dif- 

 covered in New-Hampfhire, by my friend Mr. W. D. 

 Peck, a very intelligent American naturalifl:. This fpe- 

 cies, however, 1 will not take upon me to fay is new. 



* Sonini De Manccurt, &c. 



4 In 



