THE ETHIOPIAN REGION 103 



Carnivores, of which the most remarkable is the Fossa or 

 Cryptoprocta — a large cat-like animal allied to the Civets, 

 but sufficiently distinct to form a separate family (see Fig. 

 19, p. 102) according to some authorities. Of the Civets, 

 besides a Viverricula closely allied to the Indian Civet, 

 there are six genera with eight species of Mongooses, all 

 confined to the island. Of these the most remarkable is 

 Eupleres — a form the jaws and teeth of which are so weak 

 and small, that it was at one time thought to belong to 

 the Insectivora. On the whole, out of the seven genera of 

 Carnivora found in the island, six are absolutely peculiar. 



Among the Insectivora of this Sub-region even greater 

 specialisation prevails. Besides two species of ubiquitous 

 shrews (Sorex) said to occur there, there are eight genera 

 of this Order found in Madagascar, all of which are con- 

 fined to the island. Geogale, a small mouse-like animal 

 about which little is known, is said to be allied to 

 Potamogale, an aquatic otter-like animal found only in 

 Western Africa. The remaining seven genera make up 

 the family Centetidte, the affinities of which are somewhat 

 doubtful, but seem on the whole to approach the 

 Solenodonts, a group confined to the Greater Antilles. 

 The best known of the Centetidie is the Tenrec — the largest 

 member of the order, between twelve and sixteen inches 

 long, and devoid of a tail (see Fig. 20, p. 104). The young 

 of this creature are covered with spines like a hedgehog, 

 but these are lost in the adult state. 



The Bats of Madagascar, as would naturally be expected, 

 do not exhibit the great peculiarities found among the 

 other orders of mammals. Out of about twelve genera 

 only one is confined to the island. The distribution of 

 Pteropiis, the genus of large tropical fruit-eating bats, often 



