868 ON THE 



the shortness of its fore legs, moves principally on 

 its hind feet by bounds and leaps ; the latter is ob- 

 viously entitled to a distinct, and separate con- 

 sideration. 



The only quadruped which resembles the 

 Kangaroo in the particular quality just alluded to, 

 (if we except the Kangaroo Rat, also confined to 

 New South Wales, and which may be considered 

 a dwarf variety of that animal,) is the Jerboa, a 

 specimen of which is now presented to you. But 

 it wants the abdominal pouch to mark its near 

 affinity to the Kangaroo, and is not an inhabitant 

 of New South Wales, but of Egypt, East Barba* 

 ry, and Arabia, 



It is, as you will perceive, about the size of 

 a young Rat, to which in its external conforma- 

 tion, (excepting in the disproportion of its legs 

 from which it derives the quality of leaping on its 

 hind feet, like the Kangaroo,) it bears no small 

 resemblance; but contrary to the Rat, it is perfect- 

 ly harmless, living entirely on fresh vegetables, 

 and, like the Rabbit, forming burrows for its 

 retreat. 



The Kangaroo, now to be described, contrary 

 to most of the other animals noted down by Lin- 

 naeus in his order of Ferae, which it is well known 

 live on raw flesh, and only accidentally congre- 

 gate ; is in every respect a gregarious animal, 

 feeding entirely on grass and other vegetable sub- 

 stances. It was first noticed in the year 1 770* 



