, the most singular of all the rodents. They
are noted for having the hind legs much longer than the fore ones--in
fact, being shaped very much like the kangaroos--of which they might be
termed Lilliputian varieties, were it not that they lack the pouch,
which distinguishes these curious creatures. Like the kangaroos, they
use their fore-feet only to rest upon. When in motion, or desirous of
passing quickly over the ground, they make use of their hind-feet only:
proceeding by long leaps or jumps, and sometimes springing to the
distance of twelve or fifteen feet. Their tails being long and slender,
were supposed _not_ to assist them in this operation; but an experiment
made by a cruel Frenchman--that of cutting off these appendages--proved
that a considerable portion of the jumping power is derived from the
tail.

Africa and Asia are the head-quarters of these quadrupeds--the most
noted species being the Jerboas of Egypt, and the Leaping Hare of the
Cape. They dwell in sandy deserts--burrowing in communities like the
marmots. In America there are no true jerboas: they are there
represented by the Jumping Mice of Labrador and the Hudson's Bay
Territory; which resemble the jerboas in almost everything except size,
the jumping mice being much smaller animals.

_Field Mice_ and _Dormice_ are other kinds of small rodents, differing
from the common kind of mouse; but the habits and appearance of these
little quadrupeds are well-known.

The _Beaver_ and _Musk-rat_, or _Musquash_ of America, are usually
classed among the rat tribe; but these animals, for many reasons,
deserve to stand apart and form a group of themselves. With regard to
the shrew-mice and moles, there is less reason for separating them from
other mice; and we shall speak of them in this connection.

The _Moles_ are known to be the best burrowers in the world: since they
can pass under the surface of the ground as fast as a man can dig after
them, or even faster. In England, the common mole is well-known--too
well, in fact--for it is the very pest of the farmer; and the damage
done by it to the herbage is very considerable indeed--of greater amount
than that occasioned by any other wild animal.

In America, where there are several species of moles, their habits are
similar; and the common American mole is very like its European congener
in every respect. But there are two or three species found in North
American countries very different from either;