EXPLANATION OF PLATE V. 



ORDER RODENTIA, FAMILY MURID^E, (Mice.) 

 Jerboas, or Jumping Mice. 



1. Jumping Hare, Cape Jerboa, or Grand Jerboa, Pedetes Capensis, in the 



position in which it eats, using its small fore feet to bring the food to 

 its mouth. With these feet it digs its burrow so expeditiously as 

 quickly to hide itself; the hind legs are proportionally longer than in 

 any other known quadruped. The tail is a most efficient organ; if 

 deprived of it they can neither leap nor sit upright. 



2. Labrador Jumping Mouse, Meriones Labrador ius. a, animal sitting; b, 



jumping. 



3. Pouched-Rat, or Sand-Rat, Geomys, or Pseudostoma (false mouth,) burs- 



arius, (of skin.) The cheek pouches much resemble the thumb of a 

 lady s glove in form and size, and hang down by the sides of the head. 

 In the Canada Pouched Rat, or Missouri Gauffre, or Gopher, they are 

 like pockets, extending from the sides of the mouth to the shoulders, 

 lined with short, soft hairs, and opening on the outside of the mouth. 



4. Woodchuck, Ground-Hog, or Maryland Marmot, Arctomys monax. 



FAMILY LEPORID.E, (Hares.) 



5. Common Hare, Lepus iimidus, showing its long ears for collecting and 



conveying sounds, like an ear trumpet. 



FAMILY CHINCHILLID^E, (Chinchillas.) 



6. Chinchilla, Chinchilla lanigera, a woolly field mouse of S. America. It 



feeds in a sitting posture, conveying its food with its fore paws. 



ORDER MARSUPIALIA, FAMILY DIDELPHID.E, (Opossums.) 



7. Virginia Opossum, Didelphis Virginiana, showing the retreat of the 



young when threatened with danger, and the use they make of their 

 prehensile tails. 



