HEDGEHOGS. 23 



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Macroscelides. — (Map 65.) These are the representatives in the Insectivora of the Jerboas in the 

 Rodents and of Perajieles among the Marsupials, -with the latter of which thoy have, in addition to a 

 general resemblance, an agreement in the imperfect ossification of the palate, it being perforated by 

 many holes. The group is very limited in number (six species being all that are known). If we 

 contrast their distribution witli that of their Rodent analogues, the Jerboas, it will be found that 

 their districts are not the same, but lie next each other, the one, rather belonging to the northern 

 hemisphere, the other to the African region. 



To them probably belongs the genus Rhynchocyon, from Mozambique, although it has also 

 affinity with Gyji^sura, in next Section. 



TuPAiA. (Map 65.) The Insectivora possess no analogues to the Flying Squirrels, or to the 

 Marsupial Petauri ; but the Cladobates, including the old genus Tipaia, represent the ordinary 

 form of Squirrels, although more slender and with a more elongated muzzle, which gives them what 

 may be called, without a pun, a more shrewish cast of countenance. They have also the same 

 habits and food, and are called by the natives by the same name— Tupaja. They are confined to 

 the Malay and Burmese districts, reaching from the Khasia Hills on the north and west, to Java 

 and Borneo on the south and east. Only six species are known, all arboreal. The Hylomys 

 SuiLLUS, found in Java, Sumatra, and Borneo, at a height of from 1200 to 2000 feet above the sea, 

 likewise belongs to the same group. It also is arboreal. Ptilocercus Lowii, also a Bornean 

 rat-like animal with a pinnated tail, is another form of Tupaia. The genus Gymnura, from Malacca 

 and Sumatra, although bandied about from place to place, seems properly to belong to this group, 

 apparently differing most in not being arboreal. The tail is scaly, and Van der HiJven thinks it 

 resembles in external appearance the American Opossum. It has something the look of a Hedge- 

 hog, and has long bristles scattered among the hairs of its back. 



The Madagascar genus Eupleres used to be placed here, but it is now properly removed by Dr. 

 Gray to the Genetts, with which its outward appearance and dentition best correspond. 



Centetina. — Madagascar Hedgehogs. (Map 66.) This family is composed of three animals from 

 Madagascar and Mauritius, bearing the spines and prickles of Hedgehogs, and resembling them a 

 good deal in appearance, but without the power of rolling themselves up in a ball. Three genera — 

 Centetes, Ericulus, and Echijjogale, — have been made for the reception of the three species. As 

 above mentioned. Professor Peters wishes to add the Sot.exodox from Cuba as a fourth. 



Hedgehogs. — (Map 66.) From the fossQ remains which have been found of this genus, it appears 

 to have been pretty widely spread in middle Europe, both in the miocene and post-glacial epoch. 

 Bones of the existing European Hedgehog (Erinaceus Exjrop^us) have been found in deposits of 

 the latter date. It now extends all over Europe and across the northern half of Asia. In the southern 

 half it is replaced by another species with longer ears (E. auritis). Various other species are found 

 in Asia — two or three occur in India, and about the same number in Africa. These, with the 

 exception of one at the Cape of Good Hope, are foimd in the north of Africa, and one of them which 

 inhabits the Desert of Sahara, like many other animals, is clothed by nature \\-ith a dress scarcely 

 distinguishable from the prevailing hue of the soil on which it lives. None have yet been found 

 in West or Central Africa ; but, doubtless, links will be found connecting the solitary Cape species 

 with some of the other African forms. 



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