The Jerboa is about as large as a rat, and its color is a tawny yellow, something like that of dried
lemon-peel. Its fur is very smooth and soft; its eyes are full and round, and its head is much like
that of a young rabbit. When it eats, it sits and hold its food in its fore-paws, very much as a
squirrel does.
There is a very great and curious difference in the length of its legs; those in front being so short
that you would hardly notice them, and those behind very long. It bounds along over the ground
very rapidly; so that the greyhound, which is one of the swiftest of dogs, is often unable to
overtake it. It seems, when you first look at it, to use only its hind legs in jumping, but his is not
so. When it is about to take a leap, it raises its body upon the toes of its hind feet, keeping the
balance by the help of its long tail. It springs and comes down on its short fore legs, but does it
so very quickly that you can hardly see how it is done, and the animal seems to be upright all the
time.
They appear to be very fond of each other's company, and great numbers are usually found
together. They sleep during the day, but like the hare and rabbit, go out of their burrows to eat
and to play as soon as it begins to be dark.
Return to Table of Contents