ANIMALS. o4,7 



and exactly resemble those of a bird, there being but three toes, 

 the middlemost of which is longest. 



The jerboa is found in Egypt, Barbary, Palestine, and the de- 

 serts between Bassorah 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 



sphere, against which its thick coat affords an admirable protection, it was 

 thought necessary to keep it during tlie winter in a moderately warm room, 

 and a piece of flannel was even introduced into its sleeping apartment for 

 its greater comfort. But this indulgence was most pertinaciously rejected, 

 and as often as the flannel was replaced, so often was it diagged by tlio little 

 animal into the outer compartment of its cage, where it amused itself with 

 pulling it about, rolling it up and shaking it with its feet and teeth. In 

 other respects it exhibits but little playfulness, and gives few signs of activ. 

 ity ; seldom distiu-bing its usual quietude by any sudden or (extraordinary 

 gambols, but occasionally displaying strong symptoms of alarm when 

 startled by any unusual occurrence. It is, in fact, a remarkably tran. 

 qiiil and peaceable animal luiless when its timidity gets tlie better of its gen- 

 tleness. 



" A second individual of this interesting species has lately been added to 

 the collection by the kindness of Lady Knighton, in whose possession it had 

 remained for twelve months previously to her presenting it to the Society. 

 This specimen is larger in size and rougher in its fur than the one above de- 

 scribed; its colour is also less uniformly gray, deriving a somewhat mot- 

 tled appearance from the nimierous small blackish spots which are scatter. 

 ed over the back and sides. It is possible that this may be the Peruvian 

 variety, mentioned in the extract from Schmidtmeyer's Travels as furnishing 

 a less delicate and valuable fur than the Chilian animal. It is equally good 

 tempered and mUd in its disposition ; and, probably in consequence of hav- 

 ing been domiciliated in a private house instead of having been exhibited in 

 a public collection, is much more tame and playful. In its late abode it was 

 frequently suffered to run about the room, when it would show off its iigility 

 by leaping to the height of the table. Its food consisted principally of dry 

 herbage, such as hay and clover, on which it appears to have thriven great, 

 ly. That of the Society's original specimen has Iiitherto been chiefly grain 

 of various kinds, and succulent roots. 



" When the new comer was first introduced into Briiton Street, it was 

 placed in the same cage with the other specimen ; but the latter appeared 

 by no means disposed to submit to the presence of the intruder. A fero. 

 cious kind of scuffling fight immediately ensued between them, and the lat- 

 ter would unquestionably have fallen a victim, had it not been rescued 

 from its impending fate. Since that time they have inhabited separate 

 cages, placed side by side; and although the open wires would admit of 

 some little familiarity taking place between them, no advances have as yet 

 been made on either side. Such an isolated fact can, of course, have little 

 weight in opposition to the testimony of Molina that the chinchilla is fond 

 of company. It is nevertheless a remarkable circumstance, and deserves to 

 be mentioned iu illustrutiou of the habits of these auimals," 



