V\'-\^ <^}C/ K^r 



' H^ 



^i^ 



ELEPHANT ^MRWN .—Macroscelides proboscideus. 



The Elephant Shrew is a native of Southern America. 



The legs are nearly of equal size, but the hinder limbs are much longer than 

 the fore-legs, on account of the very great length of the feet, which are capable of 

 affording support to the creature as it sits in an upright position. As might be 

 presumed from the great length of the hinder limbs, the Elephant Shrew is 

 possessed of great locomotive powers, and when alarmed, can skim over the ground 

 with such celerity that its form becomes quite obscured by the rapidity of its 

 movement through the air. Its food consists of insects, which it captures in open 

 day. 



Although the Elephant Shrew is a dim'nal animal, seeking its prey in broad 

 daylight, its habitation is made below the sm^face of the ground, and consists of a 

 deep and tortuous burrow, the entrance to which is a perpendicular shaft of 

 some little depth. To this place of refuge the creatm^e always flies when alarmed, 

 and as it is so exceedingly swift in its movements, it is not readily captui'ed 

 or intercepted. 



144 



