Movements and attitudes are characteristic. As a kangaroo rat emerges
from the burrow a reason for the relatively large size of the opening is
seen in the fact that, kangaroolike, the animal maintains a partially
upright position. Its ordinary mode of progression is hopping along on
the large hind legs, or, when in the open and going at speed, leaping.
When moving slowly about over the mound, as if searching for food, it
uses the fore legs in a kind of creeping movement. It appears to be
creeping when pocketing grain strewn about, but close observation shows
that the fore feet are then used for sweeping material into the pockets,
reminding one somewhat of a vacuum cleaner. When it assumes a partially
upright position the fore limbs are usually drawn up so closely that
they can be seen only by looking upward from a somewhat lower level than
that occupied by the animal. The slower movements of searching or
playing about the mound are occasionally interrupted by a sudden leap
directly upward to a height of 1-1/2 to 2 feet, often with no apparent
reason other than play. This is, however, a fighting or guarding
movement, though indulged in for play. The play instinct seems to be
well developed, and in evidence on any moonlight night when actual
harvesting operations are not going on.