AFRICAN GNAWERS 
259 
hand, I sat up, and directed by the noise, I hurled the invaders to the 
ground, till at length resistance and the passing away of the storm 
allowed me to sleep in peace.” 
The Jerboa is a most lively little creature which lives in North¬ 
eastern Africa, on the plains where it is so dry that only a few grasses 
and shrubs will grow. They live in little societies, and dig their homes 
beneath the ground, where they have long halls branching in every 
direction. When going along quickly, the jerboa walks and runs by 
touching first one of its hind feet to the ground and then the other, 
JERBOAS OR JUMPING MICE 
but when in a hurry, it springs from both feet at the same time, 
covering such long distances at a bound, and touching the ground so 
quickly, that it seems much like a bird skimming along close to the 
ground. The jerboa is about six inches long, with tail about eight 
inches in length. It is of grayish color, with a white tufted tail. There 
is a species of jerboa in America, called jumping mouse. 
The Hamsters are very nearly related to the true mice and rats. 
They are stoutly built, rat-like animals, generally with short tails. The 
hamsters are confined to the Old World, and chiefly inhabit the tern- 
