HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



397 



THE JERBOA. 



Mfis Jaculus, Linn. Lc Jerbo, Buff.) 



THIS animal, remarkable for the singular con- 

 struction of its legs, is found in Egypt, Barbary, 

 and Palestine. It is somewhat less than a Rat : 

 its head has a great resemblance to that of a Rab- 

 bit ; its eyes are large and full ; the fore legs only 

 one inch in length, and are used as hands to con- 

 vey victuals to its mouth ; the hind legs are naked, 

 and very much resemble those of a bird, having 

 only three toes on each, the middle one longest; its 

 tail is much longer than its body, and terminated 

 with a black tuft, the tip of which is white ; its hair 

 is long and soft, of a reddish colour on the back ; 

 the under parts of the body are white ; across the 

 thighs there is a large black band, in the form of a 

 crescent. 



The motions of the Jerboa are similar to those of 

 the Kanguroo. It goes forward very nimbly on its 



