INSECT-EATING MAMMALS 



37 



\ 



are reduced to a very minute size, and are not very perfectly 

 formed. 



The Star-nosed Mole (Condylura cristata) (fig. 330) of North 

 America differs from the common sort in having a much longer 

 tail, while the snout is 

 encircled by a number 

 of sensitive projections, 

 which probably are of 

 use in detecting prey. 

 The habits of this crea- 

 ture resemble those of 

 ordinary Moles. 



So far we have 

 considered Insectivores 

 which pursue their prey 

 by running, burrowing, 

 or swimming; but this 

 does not exhaust the 

 possibilities, for there 

 are also arboreal forms, 

 the Tree- Shrews, and 

 leaping species, the 

 Elephant- Shrews. 



Tree- Shrews (see vol. i, p. 84), which, by the by, eat fruit 

 as well as insects, inhabit South Asia, and superficially resemble 

 small squirrels in appearance, especially as regards the tail. It 

 is suggested that this resemblance is a case of the well-known 

 phenomenon termed mimicrv, where a relatively ill -defended 

 animal is more or less protected from the attacks of its foes 

 by being mistaken for some other creature better able to look 

 after itself, or, it may be, possessed of noxious properties. Pre- 

 datory animals are well aware that squirrels are exceedingly 

 difficult to catch on account of their extreme agility, and it is 

 quite possible that the less active Tree-Shrews lead a life of 

 greater security on account of their squirrel-like appearance. A 

 protective arrangement of the kind is the more necessary since 

 the Tree- Shrews, unlike the rest of their order, feed in the day- 

 time. 



The Elephant-Shrews or Jumping-Shrews of Africa (see vol. i, 

 p. 84) are small nocturnal animals with disproportionately long 



Fig. 330. Star-nosed Mole (Condyhtra cristata) 



