THE JERBOA. 



thighs is marked with a broad dufky band, in form of a crefcent. Its tail is 

 terminated with a black tuft, the tip of which is white. 



Equally curious for its motions and conftru&ion, the Jerboa always 

 Hands on its hind feet, runs with great fpeed, and when purfued will take 

 fucceflive leaps of five or fix feet from the ground. It does not follow a 

 direct courfe, but turns frequently to the right and the left, till at length it 

 gains a burrow, and there fecretes itfelf from obfervation. When in the act 

 of leaping it carries its tail ftretched out, but in Handing or walking it carries 

 it in the form of an S, the lower part touching the ground. 



The Jerboa is a lively, inofFenfive animal, fubfifting entirely on vegetables, 

 and burrowing in the earth like a Rabbit. It forms its neft of the mofi 

 delicate herbage, rolls itfelf up with its head between its thighs, and fleeps 

 away the dreary months of winter without requiring any nutriment. 

 When firft taken it utters a plaintive cry, but foon becomes tame and docile 

 under confinement. 



It is found in Egypt, Barbary, Palefiine, the deferts between BaiFora 

 and Aleppo, the fandy tracts between the Don and Volga, and on the hills 

 fouth of the Irtifh, from Fort Janiyfchera to the commencement of the 

 Altaic mountains. 



