46 



SKETCH OF THE HISTORY Or MAMMALIA, 



from above ; c, the same seen from below ; d, e, teeth 

 of the same). Though the gerbilles have the posterior 

 limbs develoj)ed, their development is by no means to 

 the same extent as in the jerboas; and there is a far 

 more equal proportion between them and the anterior 

 pair ; hence these animals run as well as leap. They 

 are active, elegant little creatures, living in burrows, 

 which they excavate to a considerable depth, and are 

 noctiirnal in their habits. F. Cuvier enumerates eight 

 species, respectively natives of Egypt, and other parts 

 of Africa, and India. The species figured (Fig. 29) 

 has been recently described by F. Cuvier (see ' Trans. 

 Zool. Soc' vol. ii.). Of its peculiar habits we know 

 nothing definite, but they in all probability agree with 

 those of the Indian gerbille, so well described by 



29.— Burton's Gerbille. 



