Page:Transactions of the Linnean Society of London, Volume 4 (1798).djvu/209

Rh appearance of food, I conceive they sleep during the winter, and remain for that term without sustenance. As soon as I conveyed this specimen to my house, I deposited it, as it was, in a small chip-box, in some cotton, waiting with great anxiety for its waking; but that not taking place at the season they generally appear, I kept it until I found it begin to smell: I then stuffed it, and preserved it in its torpid position. I am led to believe its not recovering from that state arose from the heat of my room during the time it was in the box, a fire having been constantly burning in the stove, and which in all probability was too great for respiration. I am led to this conception from my experience of the Snow Bird of that country, which always expires in a few days (after being caught, although it feeds perfectly well) if exposed to the heat of a room with a fire or stove; but being nourished with snow, and kept in a cold room or passage, will live to the middle of summer.

The animal above described belongs to Schreber's genus of Dipus, and may be characterised

DIPUS ,

palmis tetradactlylis, plantis pentadactylis, cauda annulata undique setofa corpore longiore. ''Tab. viii. Fig. 5''. represents the Dipus canadensis, of its natural size, in an erect position.

Fig. 6. shews it in a torpid state.

XI.