CHAPTER I 



CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ORDER — ITS DIVISION INTO NINE FAMILIES — THE GALEOPITHECID.'E — • 

 THE FLYING LEMURS — THE MACROSCELIDID/E OR ELEPHANT SHREWS — THE GENUS RHYN- 

 CHOCYON — THE GENUS PETRODROMUS — THE TUPAIAD.« — THE BANGSRING — THE PRESS — THE 

 GENUS HVLOMYS — THE GENUS PTILOCERCUS — THE PENTAIL. 



THE third order of Mammalia, the INSECTIVORA (from Insccta " in- 

 sect," and 2'oro " to devour"), embraces numerous animals which, 

 like many of the Cheiroptera, feed on insects, for the consumption 

 of which they are specially adapted by the formation of their teeth. 



The distribution of the Insectivora over the habitable globe is 

 remarkable ; they are completely absent from South America and 

 Australia ; some genera only found in Madagascar have allies in the 

 West Indian islands ; the hedgehogs, so common in Europe, are un- 

 known in North America, and the majority of the species of the order 

 belong to one genus, Sorex. From these facts it is evident that they are 

 the detached fragments of a much more extensive group of animals 

 which are gradually diminishing in number and which are now almost 

 extinct. In the terrible struggle for existence which has gone on since 

 life first made its appearance on the globe, the INSECTIVORA have not 

 held their ground, except in special localities or by the favor of special 

 circumstances. Some have been saved from the severe competition with 

 other mammals by their isolation in regions like Madagascar ; the Moles 

 have escaped extermination by their habits : the Hedgehogs by their 

 prickly armor ; and others, Hke the Elephant Shrews and Squirrel 

 Shrews, owe their safety to the likeness they present to dominant 

 groups in their own districts. It is only under special conditions ihat 

 they can maintain themselves against more highly organized forms. 



