194- CANADIAN JERBOA, 



from their wonderful agility^ and their evading 

 all pursuit by bounding into the thickest part of 

 the cover they can find. With respect to the 

 figure given of it in its dormant state, I have to 

 observe, that the specimen was found by some 

 workmen^ in digging the foundation for a sum- 

 mer-house in a gentleman's garden, about two 

 miles from Quebec, in the latter end of May, 

 1787. It was discovered enclosed in a ball of 

 clay, about the size of a cricket- ball, nearly an 

 inch in thickness, perfectly smooth within, and 

 about 20 inches under ground. The man who 

 first discovered it, not knowing what it was, 

 struck the ball with his spade, by which means it 

 was broken to pieces, or the ball would have been 

 presented to me. The drawing will perfectly 

 shew how the animal is laid during its dormant 

 state. How long it had been under ground, it is 

 impossible to say ; but as I never could observe 

 these animals in any parts of the country after 

 the beginning of September, I conceive they lay 

 themselves up some time in that month, or be- 

 ginning of October, when the frost becomes 

 sharp ; nor did I ever see them again before the 

 last week in May, or beginning of June. From 

 their being enveloped in balls of clay, without 

 any appearance of food, I conceive they sleep 

 during the winter, and remain for that term with- 

 out sustenance. As soon as I conveyed this spe- 

 cimen to my house, I deposited it, as it was, in a 

 small chip box, in some cotton, waiting with great 

 anxiety for its w^aking; but that not taking 



