Credit: © The Royal Society
    Image number: RS.9971
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    ‘The Gerbua’ [Greater Egyptian jerboa]

    Date
    1752
    Creator
    George Edwards (1694 - 1773, British) , Ornithologist
    Object type
    Library reference
    38029
    Material
    Technique
    Dimensions
    height (print): 286mm
    width (print): 220mm
    Subject
    Biology
       > Zoology
    Content object
    nature
       > animal
    Description
    Zoological study of a Greater Egyptian jerboa (Jaculus orientalis). The desert rodent is shown against a landscape of pyramids and antiquities. Behind are two other jerboas, one in the act of jumping, the other eating an ear of grain.

    Plate 219 from chapter 9 of Gleanings of natural history, exhibiting figures of quadrupeds, birds, insects, plants, &c..., by George Edwards, volume 1 (London, for the author, 1758). Described by Edwards in his accompanying text: “The plate represents this animal of its natural bigness. Its general shape is near that of a rat...its progression is by hopping, which it can do very quick, three or four feet at once...This animal was the property of Mr. Scarlet, Optician, near St. Ann’s Church, Westminster, who permitted me to take a drawing of it...”

    The plate is variously inscribed, including “Geo Edwards Del Anno 1752.”
    Associated place
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