1811. 
STRANGE THINGS. — SPRING-HAAS. 
487 
confinement and the presence of man : by which means an oppor- 
tunity would be afforded for discovering many particulars of their 
history, which can never be known by merely viewing them in their 
wild state. On the other hand, it must be admitted, some of the 
most interesting and characteristic particulars are only to be learnt 
by him who observes them on their native plains : while the mere 
library-naturalist is very liable to commit strange blunders, which, 
being communicated to the public, obtain a degree of currency, which 
it is afterwards very difficult to check. It is a trite expression, that 
" travellers see strange things ;" but much the strangest are seen, 
or rather imagined, by those who never go far from home : and it is, 
therefore, the duty of every honest traveller to cut these down to 
their proper standard. 
A Hottentot brought me a Spring-haas * which he had shot. 
Great complaints were made against these animals for the mischief 
they do to the corn, eating it both green and ripe. It was of nearly 
the size of a hare, with long soft fur of a sandy color, a long tail, 
black at the extremity, and hinder legs of twice tlie length of the 
fore pair. Its very remarkable gait is occasioned by this dispropor- 
tion of legs ; as it moves, at least when in haste, only by long leaps 
or bounds. From this circumstance, and its resemblance in several 
particulars to a hare, it has obtained from the Dutch colonists a 
name signifying Leaping Hare. Its ears, however, have more re- 
semblance to those of a cat than of a hare ; but the two long front 
teeth in each jaw, and its leaping motion, plainly prove its close 
affinity to the latter. Its fore feet, which are little more than two 
inches in length, are provided with very long hooked claws, better 
adapted for holding its food, than for burrowing in the ground ; and 
have every appearance of not being used for the latter purpose. 
On the contrary, the hinder legs, which are nearly ten inches long, 
are furnished with extraordinarily large and strong nails, which might 
* Pedetes Coffer. — Dipus Caffzr. L* 
Pennant. Quad. vol. ii. p. 170. 
Sys. Nat. 1. p. 159. — Cape Jerboa. 
