ORDER RODENTIA. 153 



brushes or tufts of silken hairs, but much smaller, one 

 above the eye, and the other behind. The hairs which cover 

 the origin of the tail are long, but not tufted. The meta- 

 tarsus is covered with very short hairs nearly like the Rab- 

 bits. 



This description proves that this animal belongs to the 

 genus Gerboa. Nevertheless, it differs from all the com- 

 mon species by its larger size, its clumsier body, its more 

 robust hinder limbs, and shorter in proportion. 



The individual just described was extremely ferocious 

 and uneasy. It was continually attempting to gnaw the 

 bars of the cage in which it was shut up. Its mode of 

 walking was altogether like that of the Hares or Kanguroos, 

 and it appears probable that it could leap with great vigour. 

 It scratched itself with its hinder paws like the Kanguroos, 

 and licked the front ones like the Rabbits. It was sup- 

 ported with bread, carrots, and other vegetables, which it 

 carried to its mouth with its fore-paws. 



Our author is inclined to refer to the Gerboas certain 

 animals of which Desmarest and Illiger have formed a se- 

 parate genus. The first of these naturalists has given it 

 the name of Gerbillus, the second, that of Meriones. 

 We shall give their description after M. Desmarest. 



There are six species, four of which belong to the warm 

 climates of the Old Continent, and two to North America. 



The characters are not yet fixed in an invariable manner, 

 as the teeth of but one species are known. All resemble in 

 character purely exterior, such as the length of the hinder 

 extremities, the small projection of the cheek-bones ; also 

 in such interior characters as the composition of the tar- 

 sus, fyc. 



The Gerbilli may be considered as long-footed Rats, ge- 

 nerally of a small size, with the anterior extremities rather 

 short ; on these there are four toes, and the rudiment of a 

 thumb. 



