CANADIAN JERBOA/ 
IIS 
however conversant with natural history, who may 
have seen or known, that there was an animal exist- 
ing in the coldest parts of Canada, of the same 
genus with the Jerboa, hitherto confined to the 
warmer climates of Africa, I take the liberty of 
laying before this society the following observa- 
tions, accompanied by a drawing of an animal of 
that kind, procured by myself in the neighbour- 
hood of Quebec, during my last residence in that 
country. The specimens from which I made the 
drawing, are now in my collection. With respect 
to the food, or mode of feeding of this animal, 
I have it not in my power to speak with any degree 
of certainty, as I could by no means procure any 
kind of sustenance, that I could induce it to eat ; 
therefore when caught, it only lived a day and a 
half. The first I was so fortunate to catch, was 
taken in a large field, near the falls of Montmo- 
renci, and by its having strayed too far from the 
skirts of the wood, allowed myself, assisted by 
three other gentlemen, to surround it, and after an 
hours hard chace, to get it unhurt ; though not 
before it was thoroughly fatigued, which might 
in a great measure accelerate its death. During 
the time the animal remained in its usual vigour, 
its agility was incredible for so small a creature. It 
always took progressive leaps of from three to four, 
and sometimes of five yards, although seldom above 
twelve or fourteen inches from the surface of the 
gras^; but I have.observed others in shrubby places, 
and in the woods among plants, where they chiefly 
reside, leap considerably higher. When found 
in such places, it is impossible to take them, from 
their wonderful agility, and their evading all 
pursuit, by bounding into the thickest parts 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 
