2{\ 77** IVbvum XaturcMit Vol 73 



JERBOAS 



Oy Roar. C. Kf.r<haw 



IIic Uuiorluuate UCt that SO many Australian animals Mi COWWDIily 

 known under foreign names may have rc> be suffered for some time yet. 

 However, when a Hiend tecenily told nw of a "tang-tiroo ral" We has seen 

 (lie had 9e>i) a Detiong, {fMfnHflw eimicttSus) [ thought of the Jerboas 

 which kept us company in Libya. In this matter pi name?, however, one 

 presumes thai hoi many people stop fa consider the difference between a 

 "rat -like kangaroo" and a "kangaroo-like rat". But it does, seem desuable 

 •bat naturalist* should endeavour to use <he most appropriate terminology, 

 una uuloilunalelv this has not always been done. 



The female Bettong. perhaps, ami Hip. Poloroo have some rat-like features, 

 hut my iricnrl of the desert is not much like either, except that at hops 6ftvf 

 the style ©f the kangaroo. 



The Jerboa is, of course, a true rodent, and is quite distinct from the 

 marsupials One is not inclined to regard rodents with favour, particularly 

 the common rat and the labbit. However the Jerboa initiated a oenain 

 nostalgia til weary soldier*, as well a<; a fellow feeling when the German 

 nnvned fire with his artillery. However, the littk let lows provided a s*me 

 note in a crazy world when they reappeared after the noise had died away. 



The animals appeared at sunset, from their holes in the ground, Their 

 nocturnal habit is probably essential in the heat o£ the summer. The colony 

 of which T ■iaw most, lived OP a »nrky ridge W'btrh had a very Utile rnvermg 

 of sandy soil The vegetation was sparse, consisting of small shrub*, among 

 which the animals boutK'd, Apparently featlcs*. but really rather shy From 

 .-i distance they blended very well into the drab background. Their only 

 companions were an occasional snake or |ijj*r*l, inlets, and a bird which wc 

 called a plover, I did not collect any snails, but some were collected not 

 far away in H.e.ypr by another soldier and sent to Mr. Tredalr at the Aus- 

 tralian Museum. The Jerboas appeared to include insects and seeds in the 

 diet, and presumably also eggrs of the ground- nesting birds 



True rodents are characterised by having only one pair of incisors in the 

 upper jaw. There are several genera of rodents having a general relationship 

 and/or sntulanty to Jerboas. The Kanyarnn-Rar is a native at- America and 

 an ally of me Pocket Gopher, names which mean little to Australian*. 

 Tbeie are filco Jutnpiiur Mice which are fvUtid in America, Asia, and .Africa. 

 representing various groups. The so-called Jerboa Rat of Australia ha> 

 liltle resemblance except cwrrbapc, superficial, but the Australian Hopping 

 Mice do seem to resemble the Jeiboa more closely 



However, the Jerboa.** form a distinctive group of whit li an imporUnt 

 characTtTiMic j; the lusion of the metatarsal bonts of trie fund foot into a 

 single bone wi(h only three toes, although ihcre are allied forms with tout 

 or five loes. The Australian rodents have not developed this feature which 

 is like yet distinct from the fcattgaroo foot. The Jerboa is rather like a ml 

 ill body form with a bta.il which recalls Ibat of a rabbit Our friends of the 

 desert near T»4iruk in Libya utters presumably (he Egyptian Jerboa, or al 

 joast a race of Ikt? lorm, which k widespread, 



JBOVC-Vtow, K. |^j C . 1943 — t : wrr$d Animals of Au&tmlw, 2nd Ed., Sydney. 



CUPBOARDS FOR SALIC 



The Club w*ihe$ W dispose of two large cupboarrU admirably suitable for 

 «$e 3S hoolccascs. The timber of each cupboard is in excellent condition hut 

 the extenors ol both ;»e sli«titly Soiled Roth are fnred with wooden rloors 

 and ?djn=taMe •shelving. Sizes Both are 6 ft. high and 2 ft deep; oik- h 

 4 fi ftiit. wide and the other 5 ft wide. Price: C5 each. Anyone interested 

 should contact Mr. N. A- VVakelicW. 



