THE GERBUA. 23 



CHAPTER XVL 



THE GERBUA. 



THIS animal as little resembles a quadruped, as that which has been 

 described in a former chapter. If we should suppose a bird devested 

 of its feathers, and walking upon its legs, it might give us some idea 

 of its figure. It has four feet indeed, but in running, or resting, it never 

 makes use of any but the hinder. The number of legs, however, do not 

 much contribute to any animal's speed ; and the gerbua, though pro- 

 perly speaking, furnished but with two, is one of the swiftest creatures 

 in the world. 



The gerbua is not above the size of a large rat, and its head is sloped 

 somewhat in the manner of a rabbit ; the teeth also are formed like 

 those of the rat kind, there being two cutting teeth in each jaw ; it 

 has a very long tail, tufted at the end ; the head, the back and sides are 

 covered with large ash-coloured soft hair ; the breast and belly is 

 whitish ; but what most deserves our attention in the formation of this 

 little animal, is the legs ; the fore-legs are not an inch long, with four 

 claws and a thumb upon each, while the hinder legs are two inches 

 and a quarter, and exactly resemble those of a bird, there being but 

 three toes, the middlemost of which is longest. 



The gerbua is found in Egypt, Barbary, Palestine, and the deserts 

 between Bussorah and Aleppo ; its hind-legs, as was said before, are 

 only used in running, while the fore-paws, like those of a squirrel, 

 grasp its food, and in some measure perform the office of hands. It 

 is often seen by travellers as they pass along the deserts, crossing their 

 way, and jumping six or eight feet at every bound, and going so swiftly, 

 that scarce any other quadruped is able to overtake them. They are 

 a lively, harmless race of animals, living entirely upon vegetables, and 

 burrowing like rabbits in the ground. Mr. Pennant tells us of two 

 that were lately brought to London, that burrowed almost through 

 the brick wall of the room where they were kept ; they came out of 

 their hole at night for food, and when caught, were much fatter and 

 sleeker than when confined to their burrows. A variety of this ani- 

 mal is found also in Siberia and Circassia, and is, most probably, com- 

 mon enough over all Asia. They are more expert diggers than even 

 (he rabbit itself ; and when pursued for a long time, if they cannot 

 escape by their swiftness, they try to make a hole instantly in the 

 ground, in which they often bury themselves deep enough to find se 

 curity before their pursuers come up. Their burrows, in some places, 

 are so thick, as to be dangerous to travellers, the horses perpetually 

 falling in them. It is a provident little animal, and lays up for the 

 winter. It cuts grass in heaps of a foot square, which, when dried, it 

 carries into its burrow, therewith to serve it for food, or tokeep its young 

 warm daring the rigours of the winter. 



