316 



THE INSECTIVORES 



species differing mainly in respect of size and color, as well as in the length of the 

 fur. Many are restricted to particular islands ; the Bornean tree-shrew, the Nicobar 

 tree-shrew, and the recently discovered Philippine tree-shrew, being unknown out 

 of the islands from which they take their names. Others, again, have even a still 

 more restricted distribution ; two species having hitherto been obtained only in the 

 forests of Mount Dulit in North Borneo. 



The largest member of the group is the Bornean tree-shrew (Tupaia tana}. 

 They may be found in clumps of trees as well as in forests ; and, in addition to 

 their resemblance to squirrels in appearance, they simulate those animals very 

 closely in their movements, as they may not unfrequently be seen sitting upon their 

 hind-quarters and holding their food in their fore-paws. Their food consists of in- 



THE COMMON TREE-SHREW. 

 (One-third natural size.) 



sects and fruit ; and although insects are usually sought on trees, tree-shrews may 

 sometimes be seen hunting for food on the ground. 



The Madras tree-shrew ( T. ellioti ) , which is found in the forests of the greater 

 part of Peninsular India to the southward of the plains of the Indus and Ganges, 

 is a well-known species, of which the head and body measure from seven to eight 

 inches in length, while the tail (including the hair) is about one inch longer. From 

 the fact of several of this species having been met with by Professor Ball lying 

 dead in the jungle, it would seem that a fate similar to that which overtakes at certain 

 times of the year our common English shrew also befalls the tupaias. The Malay 

 tree-shrew ( T.ferrugined} is a rather smaller species, with a much wider distribution, 

 extending from Assam and the Eastern Himalayas (where it is found at elevations 

 of from three thousand to six thousand feet) to Burma and the Malayan islands. 



