308 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



height sufficient to have seriously injured, if not killed, a human 

 being. Nevertheless, though his muzzle was covered with blood 

 when I picked him up, causing very laboured respiration for some 

 time after, on revisiting him about three hours later he had 

 already recovered, and was as active and lively as before. This 

 is the more remarkable, as a female which was killed by accident 

 died in three minutes, the skull cracking like an egg-shell, and 

 the animal being convulsed all down one side. 



Solitary Jerboas remain silent for weeks together, but a pair 

 during courtship repeatedly utter a curious croaking noise, sit- 

 ting facing each other with their depressed muzzles in contact. I 

 have not yet succeeded in breeding these little animals. 



The above are the results of observations conducted during 

 the past ten months on captive animals, well-fed and well-housed, 

 with abundance of room for exercise, and good bedding. The 

 list of specimens is as follows : — 



(1) Adult female, purchased November, 1900. — At first lively 

 and feeding well, this Jerboa soon became somnolent and stupid, 

 probably owing to the continued damp weather, with almost total 

 absence of sun. It uttered no sound, and was very gentle, never 

 attempting to bite. This Jerboa died in the winter of 1900-1. 



(2, 3) Adult male and female ; a fine well-grown pair, pur- 

 chased Jan. I4th, 1901. — The male (still living) was a remarkably 

 fine animal, always more active and more easily roused than the 

 female, who, I think, must have been an old animal, as her 

 partner paid her little attention. The male was a public 

 character, who achieved considerable notoriety ; for, having 

 been taken to exhibit at a local bazaar, he distinguished himself 

 by escaping from his custodian, and remained triumphantly 

 behind the wainscoting of an adjacent chapel for about an hour 

 and a half, scraping with provoking and very audible diligence at 

 the mortar of the wall. After several fruitless attempts he was 

 recaptured, and again figured in public, to the great benefit of 

 the funds, very many persons coming to see the wonderful " Rat 

 on stilts." Both animals delighted to gnaw holes in an old 

 curtain, to which they had access, and burrowed amongst its 

 folds with infantine delight. 



(4) A young female, successor to No. 3. — The male was much 

 attached to this animal, paying her much attention. Unfortunately 



