NOTES ON THE EGYPTIAN J EBB A. 309 



she died as a result of a broken leg, probably received in falling 

 a considerable height from the sides of the cage. She was of a 

 remarkably lively and frolicsome disposition, pattering about 

 over the floor of the cage with the nimbleness of a Sandpiper. 



(5) A young female. — Very small and poorly coloured ; a 

 remarkable greyish tinge showing on the fur. 



(6) Adult female (successor to No. 4). — A handsomely marked 

 specimen, rich dark fur in contrast to No. 5. The male seemed 

 to like her well enough. It was hoped the pair would have bred. 

 Unfortunately she was found dead one morning, though appa- 

 rently in perfect health the day before. No cause of death was 

 assignable. The male has survived all his wives, and is as lively 

 as ever. 



In concluding this article, I cordially recommend the Egyptian 

 Jerboa to any naturalist in. want of an out-of-the-way pet. Of 

 convenient size, gentle disposition, engaging manners, and quaint 

 shape, this little animal can be obtained at a very moderate price 

 (say from four to seven shillings) of many London dealers, and is 

 easily kept on crushed oats, millet-seed, or similar dry food. It 

 does not require artificial heat save in the bitterest weather, 

 provided it be kept indoors ; it is neither delicate like a Mar- 

 moset, uncertain like a Ferret, noisy like a Cockatoo, nor vicious 

 like a Budgerigar. Let the Jerboa have its food and cage per- 

 fectly dry, damp and especially fog being carefully avoided; see 

 that the drinking-vessel is accessible, and give the animal plenty 

 of clean dry hay, from which it will itself gnaw fragments to form 

 its diurnal couch, and Dipus jaculus will live long and happily to 

 delight the heart of its owner with its odd ways, lively movements, 

 and docile temperament — a rodent Kangaroo, a mammalian 

 Sparrow, and a vertebrate Sandhopper all rolled into one. 



