59 



THE GERBOA. 



of commencing a second leap, it curves its tail into the peculiar form which is repre- 

 sented in the engraving, but straightens it in its aerial course. 



The Gerboa is a burrowing animal, and lives in society, so that it forms large natural 

 " warrens " in those parts of the country where it takes up its residence. It is much 

 hunted by the natives, who set some store by its rather unpalatable flesh, and is captured 

 by stopping up as many burrows as can conveniently be reached, and killing the Gerboas 

 as they rush affrighted from the open entrances. This is, indeed, almost the only suc- 

 cessful mode of capturing these fleet and agile creatures ; for if they can once leap away 

 from the immediate vicinity of their pursuers, they scour over the ground with such 

 wonderful speed that they can hardly be overtaken even by a trained greyhound. 



Dry and sandy spots are in greatest favor with the Gerboa, which is better able to dig 

 in such soils than in moist situations. Against the injurious effects of the hard and 

 burning ground upon its feet it is guarded by a thick covering of stiff, bristly hairs, 

 which defend the soles of the feet from injury, and, moreover, are useful in giving a 



BOA. Dipus sEgyptlus. 



firm hold upon the ground when the animal is in the act of making one of its extraor- 

 dinary bounds. It is a lively and playful animal, delighting to bask itself in the sun 

 near the entrance of its burrows, and to divert itself by occasional gambols with its com- 

 panions. Although it makes these visits to the open air for the sake of enjoying the 

 warm beams of the sun, the Gerboa is a nocturnal animal, and feeds only by night. 



By the united powers of its teeth and claws it can drive its tunnel through impediments 

 which would baffle any ordinary animal ; for it cannot only cut its way through the 

 hardest sand, but is even able to gnaw a passage through the thin layer of stone which 

 lies beneath the sand. The food of these animals consists chiefly of roots and similar 

 substances which it digs out of the earth, but it also feeds on various kinds of grain. 



The generic term " Dipus," or two-footed, has been given to the true Gerboas because 

 they press their fore-feet so closely to their breasts while they leap that they appear to be 

 entirely destitute of those limbs, and only to possess the two long hind legs. All the 

 animals that belong to this genus have five toes on their fore-feet and only three en the 

 hinder feet. The hair of the tail is arranged in a double row, after the manner which 

 \s scientifically called " distichous." 



