THE JUMPING SHREW 



tion. For instance, a number of small animals are 

 placed before us. At a glance we know they are 

 all Jumping Shrews, because they possess the general 

 shape of this family of mammals. We examine 

 them more closely, and discover some have four 

 toes to each of the back feet, and others have five 

 toes. Looking up a technical book on Zoology, we 

 find that those Jumping Shrews which have five 

 toes to each foot are grouped by themselves under 

 what is called a Genus, and the name given to that 

 genus is Macroscelides, and that those which have 

 only four toes to the hind feet are placed under 

 quite another genus, known as Petrodromus. Now 

 the reason for this is, or should be, quite clear. 

 Knowing the difference in regard to the number 

 of toes amongst the Jumping Shrew tribe, we can 

 easily classify them, for all those with four toes to 

 the hind-feet we pronounce as belonging to the 

 genus Petrodromus. Having satisfied ourselves as 

 to what genus the animal belonged, our next 

 endeavour is to find out what kind or species it is. 

 On examining a number of Jumping Shrews, for 

 instance, each of which possesses five toes to each 

 foot, we find various minor differences. We notice 

 some have broader skulls than others ; some have 

 longer noses, shorter tails, the teeth are slightly 

 different in shape ; the bodies differ in size, colour- 

 ing, etc. After a great deal of patience and careful 

 examination we at last separate them, so that each 

 lot shall be practically identical one with another. 



5 



