. Animate creation : popular edition of "Our living world" : a natural history. Zoology; Zoology. 4S6 THE LAGOTIS.—Lagotis cuvit ri. The (Jerboas bear a curious resemblance to the kangaroos, not only in their general appearance, but in many of their habits. Like those animals, they leap over distances which are absolutely enormous when the size of their bodies is taken into consideration, they con- stantly sit upright in order to observe surrounding objects, their food is of the same nature, and they carry it to their mouths in a similar manner. Their fore-limbs are extremel
. Animate creation : popular edition of "Our living world" : a natural history. Zoology; Zoology. 4S6 THE LAGOTIS.—Lagotis cuvit ri. The (Jerboas bear a curious resemblance to the kangaroos, not only in their general appearance, but in many of their habits. Like those animals, they leap over distances which are absolutely enormous when the size of their bodies is taken into consideration, they con- stantly sit upright in order to observe surrounding objects, their food is of the same nature, and they carry it to their mouths in a similar manner. Their fore-limbs are extremely short, while the hinder le^s and feet are developed to a very great extent, and they are all furnished with a lonsj, hair-clad tail, which serves to aid them in preserving their balance while shooting through the air. One of the most familiar of these leaping rodents is the Spring Haas, or Cape G-eeboa, sometimes called, from its hare-like aspect, the Cape Leaping Hare. It is a native of Southern Africa, and is found in considerable numbers upon the sides of mountains, where it inhabits certain burrows which it tunnels for itself in the ground. It prefers sandy ground for the locality of its habitation, and associates together in great pro- fusion in favorable spots, so that the earth is completely honeycombed with ; burrows. Being a nocturnal animal, it is rarely seen by daylight, seldom leaving its stronghold as long as the sun is above the horizon. The natives, who set some value on its flesh, take advantage of this habit, and being sure of finding the Spring Haas at home during the daytime, take their measures accordingly. Placing a sentinel at the mouth of the burrow, they force the inmate to evacuate the premises by pouring a deluge of water into the hole, and as it rushes into the open air, it is seized or struck down by the ready hand of the sentinel. Like the kangaroos, the Spring Haas prefers rough and rocky ground to a smooth soil, and displays such wonderful
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Keywords: ., bookauthorbr, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectzoology
