COMMON JERBOA. 183 



Alexandria are much frequented by the Jerboas. 

 They live in society, and in burrows, which they 

 dig with their teeth and nails. I have even been 

 told, that they sometimes make their way through 

 the soft stone which is under the stratum of sand. 

 Though not absolutely wild^ they are very shy, 

 and upon the least noise^ or the sight of any ob- 

 ject, retire precipitately to their holes. They 

 can only be killed by surprise. The Arabs con- 

 trive to take them alive, by stopping up all the 

 avenues to their burrows except one, by which 

 they force them to come out. I never ate any : 

 their flesh indeed is said to be not very palatable, 

 though it is not despised by the Egyptians. Their 

 skin, covered with soft and shining hair, is used 

 as a common fur. 



In Egypt I kept six of these animals for some 

 time in a large iron cage : the very first night 

 they entirely gnawed through the upright and 

 cross pieces of wood, and I was obliged to have the 

 inside of the cage lined with tin. They ate rice, 

 walnuts, and all kinds of fruit. They delighted 

 in being in the sun ; and when taken into the 

 shade, huddled together, and seemed to suffer 

 from the privation of heat. It has been said that 

 the Jerboas sleep by day, and never in the night ; 

 but, for my part, I observed quite the contrary. 

 In a state of liberty they are found round their 

 subterraneous habitations in open day, and those 

 which I kept were never more lively nor awake 

 than in the heat of the sun. Although they have' 

 a great deal of agility in their motions, they 



