CANADIAN JERBOA. 193 



mal existing, in the coldest parts of Canada, of 

 the same genus with the Jerboa, hitherto con- 

 fined to the warmer climates of Africa, I take the 

 liberty of laying before this society the following 

 observations, accompanied by a drawing of an 

 animal of that kind, procured by myself, in the 

 neighbourhood of Quebec, during my last resi- 

 dence in that country. The specimens from 

 which I made the drawing are now in my collec- 

 tion. With respect to the food, or mode of feed- 

 ing, of this animal, I have it not in my power to 

 speak with any degree of certainty, as I could by 

 no means procure any kind of sustenance that I 

 could induce it to eat ; therefore, when caught, 

 it only lived a day and a half. The first I was 

 so fortunate to catch was taken in a large field 

 near the falls of Montmorenci, and by its having 

 strayed too far from the skirts of the wood allowed 

 myself, assisted by three other gentlemen, to sur- 

 round it, and after an hour's hard chace, to get it 

 unhurt, though not before it was thoroughly fa- 

 tigued, which might in a great measure accele- 

 rate its death. During the time the animal re- 

 mained in its usual vigour, its agility was incre- 

 dible for so small a creature. It always took 

 progressive leaps of from three to four, and some- 

 times of five yards, although seldom above twelve 

 or fourteen inches from the surface of the grass ; 

 but I have frequently observed others in shrubby 

 places, and in the woods, among plants, where they 

 chiefly reside, leap considerably higher. When 

 found in such places it is impossible to take them,, 

 v. ii. P. i. 13 



