316 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Subterraneous habitations. 



These animals generally burrow in hard, and 

 clayey ground. They form their subterraneous 

 habitations very speedily, not only with their 

 fere-feet, but with their teeth; and throw the 

 earth back with their hind-feet, so as to form a 

 heap at the entrance. The burrows are several 

 yards long ; and run obliquely and winding, but 

 not above half-a-yard deep below the surface. 

 They terminate in a large space or nest, the 

 receptacle of the purest herbs. They have 

 usually but one entrance; yet, by a wonderful 

 sagacity, the animals work from their nest ano- 

 ther passage, to within a very small space from 

 the surface, which, in case of necessity, they can 

 easily burst through, and by that means effect 

 an escape. 



They are found in troops among the sands 

 and rubbish which surround modern Alexandria; 

 and, in digging the ground, they are said to pe- 

 netrate even through a stratum of softish stone, 

 which is under the layer of sand. Though not 

 actually wild, they are easily alarmed, and the 

 slightest noise makes them retire to their holes- 

 with the utmost precipitation. 



Their motions are similar to those of the kan- 

 guroo ; as they generally move forward on their 

 hind-legs; and, on the approach of any danger, 

 they immediately take to flight, in leaps six or 

 seven feet high, which they repeat so swiftly that 

 <* man mounted on a fleet horse can scarcely 

 overtake them*. They da no proceed in a 



