220 



LETTER XXXVI. 



tree to tree, that it frequently springs to the distance 

 of twenty or thirty yards. Its skin is remarkably 

 fine and soft, being covered with a beautiful fur, of a 

 dark colour in some parts, and a lighter in others. Its 

 head is small and elegant. It is mil(j[ in its disposi- 

 tion; but, although easily tamed, it is difficult to re- 

 tain in a state of domestication, and seizes the first op- 

 portunity of making its escape. It is less than the 

 common squirrel: it lives in trees, sleeps in the day, 

 but exhibits its activity in the night. 



The membranous appendage connecting its legs, 

 being stretched out in the act of leaping, extends the 

 surface of the body, by which it is better supported 

 "by the air and the acceleration of its fall is retarded. 

 This gives it the appearance of flying, from which its 

 name has originated. 



THE JERBOA 



merits particular attention, on account of the allusions 

 made to it in the Scriptures, it being the Damon Is-- 

 rael, or Lamb of Israel of the Arabs, and is supposed 

 to be the coney of holy writ which was classed among 

 the unclean beasts; our rabbit or coney being un- 

 known in Palestine. It is also the mouse mentioned 

 in the book of the Prophet Isaiah, chap. hi. verse 17. 

 It is." a lively and harmless animal; it lives on vegeta- 

 bles, and burrows in the ground like the rabbit. 



The Jerboa is remarkable tor the singular construc- 

 tion of its legs, the fore ones being not more than one 

 inch in length, and used not for walking but for con- 

 veying victuals to its mouth. The hind legs are nak- 

 ed and like those of a bird, .with only three toes on 

 each foot. Its hair is long and soft, reddish on the 

 back, and white on the belly and the breast, with a 

 large black band across the thighs, in the form of a 

 crescent. Its tail is longer than its body and termi- 

 nates in a black tuft, tipt with white. Its head, very 

 much re&embies that of a rabbit; but in size tins ani- 

 mal is somewhat less than a rat. 



This singular quadruped is chiefly found in Bar- 

 bary, Egypt and Palestine: there are also some spe- 

 cies" of it iii Siberia, Tartavy, and some other parts of 



