CLASS I. MAMMALIA: ORDER 1. RODENTI A. 



4-1 



a considerable distance ; they run fast, but oftener leap, making bounds of four or five yards at a 

 time, carrying the tail extended in a horizontal direction. AVhen eating, they sit on their hind- 

 legs like a squirrel, holding the food between their fore-feet. They never appear by day, neither 

 do they commit depredations within doors. I have observed their manners by nio-ht, in moon- 

 light nights, taking my station on a plain, and remaining for some time with as little motion as 

 possible. I was soon surrounded by hundreds at the distance of a few yards ; but on rising from 

 my seat the whole disappeared in an instant^ nor did they venture forth again for ten minutes 

 after, and then with much caution and circumspection. 



"A tribe of low Hindus, called Kunjers, whose occupation is hunting, go in quest of these ani- 

 mals at proper seasons, to plunder their hoards of grain, and often, within the space of twenty 

 yards square, find as much corn in the ear as could be crammed into a common bushel. They 

 inhabit dry situations, and are often found at the distance of some miles out of the reach of water 

 to drink. In confinement this animal soon becomes reconciled to its situation, and docile ; sleeps 

 much in the day, but when awake feeds as freely as by night. The Hindus above mentioned es- 

 teem them good and nutritious food." 



There are many other species of Jerboa, as the D. Mauritanicus of Algeria; D. jaculus, D. 

 hirtipes, and £>. bipes, of Egypt ; D. telum >f Tartarv ; I), lagopus of Bokhara ; D. brachyurus, 

 D. minutus, D. platurus, of Russia. F. Cuvier mentions the Alactaga arundinis of Algeria, and 

 Gray a species of Alactaga in India. A species has also been discovered in Australia by Sir 

 Thomas Mitchell, which has received the title of D. Mitchellii. It is of small size, and in other 

 respects resembles the Jerboas we have described. The Canada Jumping-mouse has sometimes 

 been called a jerboa, but America has no true species of this genus. 





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THE CAPE HELAMTS. 



THE PEDETIENS. 



{ This tribe consists of two genera, the Pedetes and Petromys. 



Genus PEDETES : Pedetes.— These animals have a large head, a long body, long pointed ears, 

 large eyes, and long hind-legs used for leaping, as in the jerboa. 



The Helamys,P. Capensis, is the Grand Gerbo of Allamand; Spring-Has, or Jumping-Hare 

 of the Dutch ; and Aerdmannetje of the Hottentots ; the Dipus Caffer of Gmelin and others. It 



