210 KANGAROO.—JERBOA. 
and run oblique and winding, but not more 
than half-a-yard beneath the surface, ending 
in a large cavity. They have usually but 
one entrance; the animals work another pas- 
sage, however, to within a very small distance 
from the surface; so that, in case of danger, 
they can cut it quickly through, and so 
escape ! 
The Kangaroo is sometimes thought to be 
a night animal; and the Jerboa, unlike the 
Marmot, comes abroad only at sun-set. In 
general, it stands or walks upon its hind-legs; 
but, if surprised, it will sometimes go upon 
all fours, but soon recover its erect position. 
At the approach of danger it takes to fight, 
in leaps of six or seven feet high, repeating 
them so swiftly, that a man, mounted on a 
good horse, can scarcely overtake it. It does 
not proceed in a straight line, but jumps first 
to one side and then to the other, till it finds 
either its own burrow or some neighbouring 
one. When undisturbed, they stand erect, 
listen, and hop about like a Crow. In dig- 
ging or eating, they drop, like the Kanga- 
roo, on their fore-legs ; but, in the latter ac- 
tion, they also often sit up like a Squirrel. 
