The Jerboa or Mouse

The Jerboa is about as large as a rat, and its color is a tawny yellow, something like that of driedlemon-peel. Its fur is very smooth and soft; its eyes are full and round, and its head is much likethat of a young rabbit. When it eats, it sits and hold its food in its fore-paws, very much as asquirrel does.

There is a very great and curious difference in the length of its legs; those in front being so shortthat you would hardly notice them, and those behind very long. It bounds along over the groundvery rapidly; so that the greyhound, which is one of the swiftest of dogs, is often unable toovertake it. It seems, when you first look at it, to use only its hind legs in jumping, but his is notso. When it is about to take a leap, it raises its body upon the toes of its hind feet, keeping thebalance by the help of its long tail. It springs and comes down on its short fore legs, but does itso very quickly that you can hardly see how it is done, and the animal seems to be upright all thetime.

They appear to be very fond of each other's company, and great numbers are usually foundtogether. They sleep during the day, but like the hare and rabbit, go out of their burrows to eatand to play as soon as it begins to be dark.

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