CLASS I. MAMMALIA: 
ORDER 7. RODENTIA. 
421 
a considerable distance ; ttey run fast, but oftener leap, making bounds of four or five yards at a 
time, carrying tlie tail extended in a horizontal direction. When eating, they sit on their hind- 
legs like a squirrel, holding the food between their fore-feet. They never appear by day, neither 
do they commit depredations within doors. I have observed their manners by night, in moon- 
light nights, taking my station on a plain, and remaining for some time with as little motion as 
possible. I was soon surrounded by hundreds at the distance of a few yards ; but on rising from 
my seat the whole disappeared in an instant, nor did they venture forth again for ten minutes 
after, and then with much caution and circumspection, 
"A tribe of low Hindus, called Kunjers, whose occupation is himting, go in quest of these ani- 
mals at proper seasons, to plunder their hoards of grain, and often, within the space of twenty 
yards square, find as much corn in the ear as could be crammed into a common bushel. They 
inhabit dry situations, and are often found at the distance of some miles out of the reach of water 
to drink. In confinement this animal soon becomes reconciled to its situation, and docile ; sleeps 
mach in the day, but when awake feeds as freely as by night. The Hindus above mentioned es- 
teem them good and nutritious food." 
There are many other species of Jerboa, as the D. Mauritanicus of Algeria ; J), jaciclus, jD. 
hiriijjes, and D. bipes, of Egypt; D. telum jf Tartary; D. lagopus of Bokhara; D. hrachyurus^ 
D. minukis, D. platurus, of Russia. F. Cuvier mentions the Alactaga arundinis of Algeria, and 
Gray a species of Alactaga in India, A species has also been discovered in Australia by Sir 
Thomas Mitchell, which has received the title of D. Mitchellii. It is of small size, and in other 
respects resembles the Jerboas we have described. The Canada Jumping-mouse has sometimes 
been called a jerboa, but America has no true species of this genus. 
THE CAPE HELAMXS. 
THE PEDETIENS. 
This tribe consists of two genera, the Pedetes and Petromys. 
Genus PEDETES : Pedetes. — These animals have a large head, a long body, long pointed ears, 
large eyes, and long hind-legs used for leaping, as in the jerboa. 
The Helamys, P. Capensis, is the Grand Gerbo of Allamand ; Spring-Has, ox Jumping-Hare 
of the Dutch ; and Aerdmannetje of the Hottentots ; the Dipus Gaffer of Gmelin and others. It 
