286 Jumping Motife of Canada. 



kind of fuftenance that I could induce it to cat ; therefore, 

 when caught, it only lived a day and a half. The firft I was 

 fo fortunate to catch was taken in a large field near the falls 

 of Montmorenci, and by its having ftrayed too far from the 

 fkirts of the wood, allowed myfelf, with the affiftance of 

 three other gentlemen, to furround it, and after an hour's 

 hard chafe to get it unhurt, though not before it was 

 thoroughly fatigued ; which might in a great meafure ac- 

 celerate its death. 



During the time the animal remained in its ufual vigour, 

 its agility was incredible for fo fmall a creature. It always 

 took progrefiive leaps of from three to four, and fometimes 

 of five yards, although feldom above 12 or 14 inches from the 

 furface of the grafs ; but I have frequently obferved others 

 in (hrubby places and in the woods, amongft plants, where 

 they chiefly refide, leap confiderably higher. When found 

 in fuch places, it is impoflible to take them, from their won- 

 derful agility, and their evading all purfuit by bounding into 

 the thickeft cover they can find. 



With refpect to the figure given of it in its dormant 11 ate, 

 I have to obferve, that fpecimen was found by fome wo;k- 

 men, in digging the foundation for a fummer-houfe, in a 

 gentleman's garden about two miles from Quebec, in the 

 latter end of May 1787. 



It was difcovered enclofed in a ball of clay, about the fizc 

 of a cricket-ball, nearly an inch in thicknefs, perfectly fmooth 

 within, and about 2o inches under ground. The man who 

 firft difcovered it, not knowing what it was, firuck the ball 

 with his fpade, by which means it was broken to pieces, or 

 the ball alfo would have been prefented to me. The draw- 

 ing will perfectly {hew how the animal is laid during its 

 dormant ftate. 



How long it had been under ground it is impoflible to 

 fay, but as I never could obferve thefe animals in any parts 

 of the country after the beginning of September, I conceive 

 they lay themfelvcs up fome time in that month, or beginning 



of 



