274 MAMMALIA. GLIRES. Jerboa, 



blifhing different varieties, is evident from Pennant's account; and the difference of country between 

 Egypt, Syria, Arabia, Barbary, and .^Ethiopia, on the one hand, and Siberia, or North-eaft Afia, on 

 the other, renders it highly improbable that the fame animals fliould inhabit thefe diftant regions, 

 without being found in the intervening country. Without, however, endeavouring to fettle the point, 

 I have fubjoined an abftracl of Mr Pennant's divifion. — T. 



A. Egyptian Jerboa. — Dipus aegyptius. 



Has three toes only on the hind feet; and four toes, with a fcarcely apparent thumb or 

 fifth toe, furnifhed with a claw, on the fore paws. Penn. hift. of quad. n. 291. pi. xlii.. 

 f-3- 



This animal Mr Pennant fuppofes to be the Mus bipes of the ancients, Mus fagitta of Pallas, Jerbo 

 ef Buffon, and Daman Ifrael of the Arabs. He fays, that it inhabits Egypt, Barbary, Paleftine, the 

 deferts between Bafora and Aleppo, the fandy tradts between the Don and Volga, and the hills fouth 

 of the Irtifh. The fore part of the body is thin and flattened at the fides ; the hinder parts large 

 and fwelling ; the upper parts of the body and head are covered with long foft hair, of an afh colour 

 at the roots, and pale tawny at the ends ; the breaft and Jjelly are whitifh ; and an obfcure dufky 

 band croffes the upper parts of the thighs. 



B. Siberian Jerboa. — Dipus Jibericus. 



Has three toes on the hind feet, and two fpurious toes fome way up the legs ; five toes 

 • on the fore feet, the thumb, or fifth toe, having no nail. Penn. hift. of quad. n. 292. 



Mus faliens. Nat. mifc. pi. 38* 



This fpecies feeds much on the bulbs of the Lilium pomponii, and twigs of the Robinia carugm, 

 is eafily tamed, and, when in confinement, will eat raw flefh and fowls guts. It is divided into the 

 following varieties by the fame great naturalift : 



,gq a. Great Siberian Jerboa. — D. ftbiricus ?najor. 



Is eight inches and a half long, and the tail ten. Penn. hift. of quad. n. 292. «. pi. xlv. 



The nofe is truncated, and edged with white ; the ears are large, pointed, tipt with white, and 

 naked within; the upper parts of the body and thighs are covered with foft hair of a dark grey colour 

 at the roots, and tawny at the ends ; the breaft, belly, and legs, are white. This variety is frequent, 

 but chiefly frequents the country between the Cafpian and the river Irtifh. 



rq Q b. Middle Siberian Jerboa.— D. ftbiricus medius. 



About the fize of a Rat, and of the fame colour with the former, having a white line 

 acrofs the top of each thigh. Penn. hift. of quad. n. 292. fi. 



