. The naturalist's library; containing scientific and popular descriptions of man, quadrupeds, birds, fishes, reptiles and insects; . This interesting animal, which produces the fur which passes under itsname, is a species of field mouse, and is common in the high plains of Chiliand Peru. It is about nine inches in length, and has a tail about half thelength of its body. It sits upon its haunches, and takes its food in its forepaws like a squirrel. It feeds chiefly upon bulbous roots. 1 Cricetus laniger, Desm. MAMMALIA-JERBOA. 243 THE The head of the jerboa is sloped somewhat in the m
. The naturalist's library; containing scientific and popular descriptions of man, quadrupeds, birds, fishes, reptiles and insects; . This interesting animal, which produces the fur which passes under itsname, is a species of field mouse, and is common in the high plains of Chiliand Peru. It is about nine inches in length, and has a tail about half thelength of its body. It sits upon its haunches, and takes its food in its forepaws like a squirrel. It feeds chiefly upon bulbous roots. 1 Cricetus laniger, Desm. MAMMALIA-JERBOA. 243 THE The head of the jerboa is sloped somewhat in the mannei of a rabbit; butthe eyes are larger, and the ears shorter, though elevated and open, withrespect to its size; its nose and hair are of a flesh color, its mouth short andthick, the orifice of the mouth very narrow, the upper jaw very full, thelower narrow and short, the teeth like those of the rabbit; the whiskersare composed of long black and white hairs; the fore feet are very short,. and never touch the ground; they are furnished with four claws, which areonly used as hands to carry the food to the animals mouth; the hind feethave but three claws, the middle one longer than the other two. The tailis three times as long as its body, and is covered with short stubborn hair,of the same color as that on the back, but tufted at the end with longer andsofter hair; the legs, nose, and eyes are bare, and of a flesh color. Theupper part of the head and back are covered with an ash colored hair; thesides, throat, and belly are whitish; and below the loins, and near the tail,there is a large, black, transversal band, in form of a crescent. Whileleaping, the jerboa stretches out its tail, but while standing or walking, itcarries it in the form of an S, the lower part touching the ground. These little animals commonly conceal their hands, or fore feet, withtheir hair; so that they are said by some to have only hinder feet. Whenthey move from one place to another, they do not w
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