AFRICAN GNAWERS 



259 



hand, I sat up, and directed by the noise, I hurled the invaders to the 

 ground, till at length resistance and the passing away of the storm 

 allowed me to sleep in peace." 



The Jerboa is a most lively little creature which lives in North- 

 eastern Africa, on the plains where it is so dry that only a few grasses 

 and shrubs will grow. They live in little societies, and dig their homes 

 beneath the ground, where they have long halls branching in every 

 direction. When going along quickly, the jerboa walks and runs by 

 touching first one of its hind feet to the ground and then the other, 



JERBOAS OR JUMPING MICE 



but when in a hurry, it springs from both feet at the same time, 

 covering such long distances at a bound, and touching the ground so 

 c[uickly, that it seems much like a bird skimming along close to the 

 ground. The jerboa is about six inches long, with tail about eight 

 inches in length. It is of grayish color, with a white tufted tail. There 

 is a species of jerboa in America, called jumping mouse. 



The Hamsters are very nearly related to the true mice and rats. 

 They are stoutly built, rat-like animals, generally with short tails. The 

 hamsters are confined to the Old World, and chiefly inhabit the tern- 



