SiO HISTOKY OF 



But although this animal is very noxious with respect to man, 

 yet, considered with regard to those instincts which conduce to 

 its own support and convenience, it deserves our admiration.' 

 its hole offers a very curious object for contemplation, and 

 shows a degree of skill superior to the rest of the rat kind. It 

 consists of a variety of apartments, fitted up for the different 

 occasions of the little inhabitant. It is generally made on a 

 an inclining ground, and always has two entrances, one perpen- 

 dicular, and the other oblique ; though, if there be more than 

 one in a family, there ai'e as many perpendicular holes as there 

 are individuals below. The perpendicular hole is usually that 

 through which they go in and out : the oblique serves to give a 

 thorough air to keep the retreat clean, and in case one hole is 

 stopped, to give an exit at this. Within about a foot of the 

 perpendicular hole, the animal makes two more, where are de- 

 posited the family's provisions. These are much more spacious 

 than the former, and are large in proportion to the quantity of the 

 store. Beside these, there is still another apartment warmly 

 lined with grass and straw, where the female brings forth her 

 young; all these communicate with each other, and all together 



five times longer thau the fore-feet. They are terminated by five or six 

 toes, according to the species, vvliich are armed with short, but large and 

 obtuse claws. 



Ancient and modem naturalists have both been mistaken respecting the 

 walk of the Gerboa. They have all imagined that these quadrupeds wallied 

 on their hind feet only, never employing the fore-feet for that purpose. 

 From this error the genus was named dipus, two legged. 



It usually walks on its four feet ; but when frightened from any cause, it 

 endeavours to escape by means of prodigious leaps, whicli it executes with 

 .iqual force and activity. When these animals are about to leap, they raise 

 their body upon the extremity of their hind toes, and support themselves 

 upon their tail. Their fore feet are so closely attached to their breast, that 

 tliey are scarcely visible. Having taken their spring, they leap, and fall up- 

 on their four feet ; then they elevate themselves again with so much celerity, 

 tliat it almost appears that they are constantly in an erect posture. 



Tlie genus Gerboa is now composed of several distinct species, one ot 

 wliich is extremely abundant in Barbary, in Higher and Lower Egypt, and 

 SjTia, and again in the more northern climates, situated between the Tanais 

 and the Volga. The otliers occupy an immense space in Siberia and the 

 north part of Russia, from Syria to the Eastern Ocean, and as far as tlie 

 northern parts of Hindostan. >A late one, recently described by M. do 

 r.lainvUe, has been published, though it would seem erroneously, as belong- 

 liig to New Holland. 



I Buffon, vol. xxvi. p. 159. 



