THE SPRING-HAAS 



{Pedetes coffer) 



There are many rodents which are specially adapted for jumping on 

 their hind-legs like Kangaroos, but the present animal is very much 

 larger than any of the rest, about equalling the Common Hare in 

 size ; in fact, its name, in Dutch, means the Jumping Hare. The real 

 affinities of the animal are, of course, with the rodents, among 

 which it stands rather alone, so as to form a family by itself 

 {Pedetidce), though formerly classed with the Jerboas. 



The toes are five on the fore-foot, provided with strong curved 

 claws : on the hind-foot there are only four, the first being absent ; the 

 third is the strongest, and they are armed with stout straight nails 

 almost like pointed hoofs. 



This is a well-known animal in South Africa, and it extends north 

 to Angola and to East Africa; it affects high and dry country, 

 whether level or hilly, and during the day conceals itself in burrows, 

 which it digs ; these are complicated in form, and serve as an abode 

 for more than one family of the animals. 



In the night the Spring-Haas is abroad in search of food, which 

 is vegetable, consisting of herbage and roots : its movements, as might 

 be expected from its shape, are in bounds like those of Kangaroos, 

 sometimes for a distance of several yards, but, according to some, it 

 is not so enduring as these marsupials, and is easily hunted down. 

 There are two motives for persecuting it ; it is very destructive to 

 crops in all stages, and in the second place, it is very good eating, 

 and hence in demand for food. When captured, it makes some 

 resistance by scratching with its powerful hind claws, but it is not a 

 savage animal, and becomes gentle in captivity. It is said to breed 

 in summer, and to have three or four young ones, which remain for 

 some time in the burrow. Moisture is very objectionable to the 

 Spring-Haas ; it sleeps a great deal in rainy weather, without becoming 

 actually torpid, and a favourite method of capturing the animal is to 

 pour water into its burrow. Some years ago a specimen lived in the 

 London Zoological Gardens for some time; but this was the only one 

 the Society had ever received, 



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2 C 



