296 



THE INSECT-EATING ANIMALS. 



American Mole beyond the fact that it is usually somewhat 

 larger in size. 



Two other species, showing another difference in dentition, 

 are the Hairy-tailed Mole (Scapanus breweri), and a blackish 

 purple variety popularly known as the Oregon Mole (Scapa- 

 nus townsetldi), both of these animals being found principally 

 in the western part of the United States. 



tu c a/ j A ver y peculiar appearance is presented by 

 The Star-Nosed (he Star . Nosed Mole (Condylura cristatd) a 

 , j" very common species found in all the north- 



scribed. ern p art Q £ t ^ e United States and through- 



out Canada, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific. It receives 

 its generic name " Condylura " or " Knotted Tail," from the fact 

 that when a specimen is dried the skin of the tail shrinks to 

 such an extent that the bones show through and all the joints 

 are seen through the skin, like a succession of knots. The 

 head and bodv" are together about four and a half inches in 

 length, while the tail is two inches long, which is much longer 

 than that of any other Mole. The specially distinguishing 

 feature of this animal, however, is the long snout and the 

 peculiar adornment of its tip, from which about twenty rose- 

 colored rays of fleshy cartilage radiate around the nostrils, like 

 the tentacles of the sea anemone or the petals of a daisy. The 

 Star-Nosed Mole has a coat of very soft blackish gray fur. Its 

 habits correspond with those of the other species of Moles. 



The Tana Typ- One of the largest species of the 

 ical of the family is the Tana (Tupaia tana). 

 Family. j t is distinguished from the others 



not only by its size, but also by its long tail, and it is 

 clothed in a dark brown fur, the tint deepening into 

 black, with a surface tinge of red on the under por- 

 tion, and showing an admixture of gray on the head 

 and muzzle. In size the Tana comes nearest to our 

 Squirrel; the body is not quite eight inches long, 

 and the tail is of equal length. 



The Tana is a nimble and lively creature, though 

 not quite so speedy as our Squirrel; it makes the 

 most of its long, curved nails and climbs nearly as 

 well as a Monkey. Its food consists of insects and 

 fruit. 



£bc ftupaias. 



THIRD FAMILY: Tupaiimj. 



A third family is formed by the Tupaiidae. They 

 remind one of Squirrels, though the resemblance can 

 only be regarded as superficial. The head tapers 



THE TANA. A lively species of the Insect-Eaters is the Tana of Inch 



tail, and a tapering muzzle. The picture appropriately represents the Tanas i 

 well as insects and seek for food in the trees as well as on the ground. ( Tupai 



into a muzzle, the blunt extremity of which is usu- 

 ally bare of fur. The body is elongated, the tail, 

 which is long in all species of this family and espe- 

 cially so in some varieties, is bushy, and covered with 

 long hair which is divided by a distinct parting and 

 hangs equally on each side; the fur is dense and soft. 

 The eyes are large, the ears oblong and rounded, 

 the limbs five-toed, the feet have naked soles; the 

 toes have no connecting membrane and are armed 

 with short, scythe-shaped claws. The female has 

 four mammse on the abdomen. 



The Tupaiida? inhabit parts of India and the In- 

 dian Archipelago. Their habits are truly diurnal 

 and they perform their robberies in the light of day. 

 Their fur and movements resemble those of Squir- 

 rels and the natives of the countries they inhabit 

 have but one name for the two kinds of animals. 



Zbe Xoiu>Xcooct> Sbrcws. 



FOURTH FAMILY: Macroscelidimj. 



The Long-Legged Shrews are better known to us 

 than the Tupaias, though by no means adequately, 

 for they form one of the most remarkable families 

 of the order. While the Tupaias show an approxi- 

 mation in the structure of their tails to the Jerboas, 

 the Macroscelidida; also resemble the latter, as they 

 have long, slender hind legs, nearly devoid of hair, like 

 those of the Jerboa. In addition to this character- 

 istic, which gives them 

 their Latin name, signify- 

 ing " Long-Legged," they 

 also have a nose longer 

 than that of any other spe- 

 cies of Insectivora, and 

 which is elongated into a 

 veritable proboscis. This 

 long snout shows a slight 

 vestige of hair only in the 

 middle, and a rather thick 

 crest of fur at its base, its 

 extremity being quite des- 

 titute of hair. Other dis- 

 tinguishing features of the 

 head are the large eyes, 

 the prominent, protruding 

 ears, furnished with inner 

 lobes, and the long whisk- 

 ers. The rather short, thick 

 body is supported by legs, 

 showing a great difference 

 in length between the fore 

 nd having a long, bushy and hind pairs. The two 



the trees, foi thej live on fruit as £ Qre legs ar£ ]lot sn ort, but 

 tana.) , t ,° , , ;. 



the hind legs are of re- 

 markable length and formed much like those of the 

 Jerboas. The fur is rich, very dense and soft. The 

 teeth are forty in number. 



The Elephant The Elephant Shrew (Macroscelides 

 Shrew De- typicus) is ten inches long, about four 

 scribed. inches being taken by the tail and 



not quite one inch by the proboscis. Its fur is of a 

 reddish-brown or mouse-gray tint on the back, sides 

 and head, and of a more or less clear white under the 

 bod} - and on the paws. 



The Elephant Shrew has the same habits as the 

 other Macroscelididae, of which hitherto about ten 

 species have been differentiated. All of these spe- 

 cies are at home in Africa, especially in the southern 

 and eastern parts, and they enliven the barren, sun- 

 burnt stretches of country. These animals delight 

 in rocky mountains, where they seek safety in deep, 



