I 
JERBOA. 303 
carried it to his house, where it was laid in a small 
chip box upon some cotton, and watched with great 
care, in hopes that in due time the torpid mouse 
would again return to life; but that not taking place 
at the season they generally appear, he kept it till 
he found it begin to smeli, and then stuffed it, so 
as to preserve it in its torpid position. “ I am led to 
believe,” says the General, “ its not recovering from 
that state arose from the heat of my room during 
the time it was in the box, a fire having been con- 
stantly burning in the stove, and which in all pro- 
bability was too great for respiration. I am led to 
this conception from my experience of the snow- 
bird of that country, which always expires in a few 
days after being caught, (although it feeds perfectly 
well,) if exposed to the heat of a room with a fire or 
stove ; but being nourished with snow, and kept in 
a cold room or passage, will live in the middle of 
summer.” 
The tail of this little creature is much longer than 
its body, and has a row of stiff* hairs on each side. 
It sleeps with its head beneath its tail, which lies in 
a spiral direction, like a snake, upon its breast ; the 
hind-legs at the same time being drawn close to the 
body. Thus doubled up, the dipus canadensis is not 
so large as a hen’s egg. 
