Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 5 (1901).djvu/336

308 height sufficient to have seriously injured, if not killed, a human being. Nevertheless, though his muzzle was covered with blood when I picked him up, causing very laboured respiration for some time after, on revisiting him about three hours later he had already recovered, and was as active and lively as before. This is the more remarkable, as a female which was killed by accident died in three minutes, the skull cracking like an egg-shell, and the animal being convulsed all down one side.

Solitary Jerboas remain silent for weeks together, but a pair during courtship repeatedly utter a curious croaking noise, sitting facing each other with their depressed muzzles in contact. I have not yet succeeded in breeding these little animals. The above are the results of observations conducted during the past ten months on captive animals, well-fed and well-housed, with abundance of room for exercise, and good bedding. The list of specimens is as follows: —

(1) Adult female, purchased November, 1900.—At first lively and feeding well, this Jerboa soon became somnolent and stupid, probably owing to the continued damp weather, with almost total absence of sun. It uttered no sound, and was very gentle, never attempting to bite. This Jerboa died in the winter of 1900–1.

(2, 3) Adult male and female; a fine well-grown pair, purchased Jan. I4th, 1901.—The male (still living) was a remarkably fine animal, always more active and more easily roused than the female, who, I think, must have been an old animal, as her partner paid her little attention. The male was a public character, who achieved considerable notoriety; for, having been taken to exhibit at a local bazaar, he distinguished himself by escaping from his custodian, and remained triumphantly behind the wainscoting of an adjacent chapel for about an hour and a half, scraping with provoking and very audible diligence at the mortar of the wall. After several fruitless attempts he was recaptured, and again figured in public, to the great benefit of the funds, very many persons coming to see the wonderful "Rat on stilts." Both animals delighted to gnaw holes in an old curtain, to which they had access, and burrowed amongst its folds with infantine delight.

(4) A young female, successor to No. 3.—The male was much attached to this animal, paying her much attention. Unfortunately