FROM CAFFA, 
in the engraving published by Haym, the fore- 
feet be represented rather too long. A century 
ago they did not pay attention to minute accu- 
racy in such representations ; and nearly this 
time has elapsed since the work of Haym 
appeared His mode of expressing himself 
is certainly somewhat equivocal, because he 
says, “ when it ran, it went hopping like a 
bird but the words “ e sempre comma sopra 
due piedi solamente ,” as well as “ salla molt' alto 
quand' b spavurito when added to the engraved 
representation, plainly prove what the animal 
was. It is generally esteemed as an article of 
food, in all countries where it is found. It 
burrows in the ground like a rabbit ; but seems 
more to resemble the squirrel than either that 
animal or the rat. Its fine dark eyes have all 
the lustre of the antelope’s. Haym. says, the 
smell of it is never offensive when kept domes- 
tic; and indeed it may be considered one of 
the most pleasing harmless little quadrupeds 
hitherto described. Gmelin observed it in 
the neighbourhood of Woronelz in 1768: Mes- 
serschmied, in Siberia ; and Hasselquist, in Egypt 5 . 
(1) Haym's Tesoro JRritannico was published in 1720. He had the 
animal alive j and a very curious account of it is given in the second 
volume of his work, p. 124. 
(2) Journal des Savans Voyageurs, p. 7b\ 
