THE JUMPING SHREWS 



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The typical jumping shrews, constituting the genus Macro scelides, 

 as of which a species (M. typicus} is represented in the illustration on 

 this page, are characterized by the number of their teeth and toes. With one 

 exception, these animals have 42 teeth, of which f are incisors \ canines, and f cheek- 

 teeth on either side of the jaws. Invariably they possess five toes on the fore feet ; 

 while, with the single exception above mentioned, where there are but four, the same 

 number obtains in the hind foot. Their ears are large, and the tail naked and rat like. 

 Numerous species of this genus are found over a large part of the 

 African continent, their range extending from the Cape to Algiers; 

 and most of them being very much alike, both as regards size, form, and color. 

 The species figured here is the Cape- jumping shrew, a tawny-brown animal of about 



Distribution 



CAPE- JUMPING SHREW. 

 (One-half natural size. ) 



five inches in length, exclusive of the tail ; the length of the latter being about three 

 inches. They are very common in South Africa, where they dwell among grass 

 and bushes, coming forth at dusk from their hiding places to scour the plains in 

 search of their insect food. The Algerian jumping shrew (M. rozeti) is a very 

 similar animal, known to the French colonists of the districts it inhabits as the rat 

 & trompe, which is said to vary the insect diet of the Cape species with an admixture 

 of vegetable food. I^ike the tree-shrews, this species can be readily tamed, and 

 soon becomes familiar, not to say impudent. 



Of larger size than any of the other species of the genus, is the rock- 



Shri P J um P-i n & shrew (M. tetradactylus} , of the Mozambique coast of East 



Africa, which derives its name from dwelling in rocky districts, where 



it conceals itself in the crannies and clefts of rocks. The most important character- 



