'iiiK maija(;ascai< iii':i)(>i;iio(;s. 159 



smoothly and rcf^ularly lii.il, lie could be sircjkcd down the back and 

 handled freely. We turned hitn into the kitchen to kill cockroaohes, 

 and know nothing further (jI him." 



The Iledf^eho^ is the only animal which can eat Cantliaridcs (lies 

 without inconvenience, and it is quite impervious to most kinds of poi- 

 sen, including that of venomous snakes. 



II. -GENUS GYMNURA. 



This genus is represented by only one species, the BuLAU or TiKUS, 

 Gymnura RaJJlcsii, foun<l in Sumatra, and somewhat like our own opos- 

 sum. All the feet have five toes, the three middle toes being longer than 

 the others. The muzzle is lengthened, but is cut off abrujjtly at its ter- 

 mination. The eyes are small, and the ears small, rounded, and devoid 

 of hairy covering. 



One peculiarity of the animal is, that the fur on the body and head 

 is pierced by a numl;er of very long, bristling hairs, which aic much 

 longer on the neck and shoulders. The color is a mi.xture of black and 

 white, as follows: the greater part of the body, the upper portion of the 

 legs, and the beginning of the tail, are black; while the head, the neck, 

 and Hanks, and the remainder of the tail, are white. There is also a black 

 stripe over each eye, which forms a bold contrast with the white fur of 

 the head. It emits a musky odor. Nothing is known of its habits. 



THE TENRECS. 



The family Centetid.^ contains a number of small animals, many of 

 which have a spiny covering. Of the six genera into which it is divided, 

 all but one inhabit Madagascar, and the animals are often called Maua- 

 GASCAR IIeugeiiogs. In general they may be described as having a 

 long head and pretty long muzzle, small eyes, moderate ears, short legs, 

 with five toes and strong claws, while their coat is like that of the 

 Gymnura — half hair, half bristles. The tail is either almost or entirely 

 wanting in five of the genera, while the two species embraced in the 

 genus Solenodon are endowed with a very long, bare, and scaly caudal 

 appendage. 



