ANIMALS. 



341 



^ length of its legs, it runs up trees, in the hollows of 

 which it is often found. It moves by leaping ; and 

 often jumps one yai'd and a half at a time. It has 

 been seen leaping with four young ones attached to 

 its teats.* 



The mus bursaj^ius^ belongs to a particular divi- 

 sion in the genus, containing such species as are fur- 

 nished with cheek pouches for the temporary recep- 

 tion of their food. It seems not to have been yet 

 described, or at least not so distinctly as to be easily 

 ascertained. It approaches however to one or two 

 species mentioned by Dr. Pallas, Mr. Pennant, and 

 others ; but differs in size, being much larger, as 

 V/ell as in the appearance of the fore feet, which 

 have claws differently formed from any of the 

 pouched species hitherto described. 



In order to secure its knowledge among natural- 

 ists, it may be proper to form for it a specific cha* 

 racter, viz. 



Ash coloured rat, with short, round, nearly naked 

 tail, pouched cheeks, and the claws of the fore feet 

 very large, formed for burrowing in the ground. 



The cheek pouches are far larger, in proportion 

 to the animal, than any other of this tribe, and there- 

 fore have given occasiojn to the specific name. 



Among the other quadrupeds of the United States, 

 may be enumerated the mountain cat^ pardalis^ 

 Linn. Lynx, or wild cat, of which there are three 

 species ; one of them catus cervarius^ L. is highly 

 ravenous ; the kincajou : the weasel, and mink, de- 

 structive little animals among our poultry ; the 



* See Amer. Phil. Trans, vol. 5. for a nibre full account, with a 

 plate, by Dr. Barton. 



