u6 



THE INSECT-EATERS. 



A German name meaning " reed proboscis- 

 bearer" (Ro/irriissler) has been invented for 

 these little animals, but the name is altogether 

 inappropriate, since they are never met with 

 among reeds or marshes, but only on the 

 driest ground. The designation "jumping 

 proboscis - bearer " would be more fitting. 

 In the large five -toed species known as 

 the Elephant -shrew 

 ( Macroscelides typi- 

 cus\ which is repre- 

 sented in fig. 47, the 

 body measures rather 

 more than 4 inches, 

 the proboscis less 

 than i inch, and the 

 tail is nearly as long 

 as the body. It in- 

 habits South Africa. 

 Another, smaller, 

 species, the Algerian 

 Jumping-shrew (Ma- 

 croscelides Rozeti), is 

 found in the north, in 

 Morocco and Algeria. 

 The canine has two 

 roots, and in that 

 respect resembles a 

 premolar in form. A 



scent -gland at the 

 root of the tail diffuses a strong odour. Occa- 

 sionally these animals may be seen hunting 

 in pairs, but nothing more is known of their 

 mode of life. Allied genera (Petrodromus) 

 have only four toes on the hind-feet. 



THE DESMANS OR DIVERS 



(MYOGALIDA). 



With swimming feet, long proboscis, and flattened tail; 

 a group having a very remarkable geographical dis- 

 tribution. 



One species, which forms a genus by itself 

 (Nectogale), is found in Tibet; another genus, 

 Potamogale, with a very peculiar dentition, be- 

 longs to West Africa; the typical genus, that 



Fig. 48. The Wuychuchol (Myogale mosc/iata). 



of the Musk-shrews (Myogale), comprises two 

 species, the larger of which, the Wuychuchol 

 (M. moschata), is found in the Volga and the 

 other rivers of the steppes of southern Russia, 

 while the smaller species, the Desman ( M. pyr- 

 enaica), is found in the torrents of the Pyrenees 

 and other mountain-chains of northern Spain. 

 The remarkably mobile naked proboscis, 



notched at the ex- 

 tremity, the feet with 

 five toes all connected 

 byaweb, and the long 

 flattened tail covered 

 with scales at the end 

 enable us to recognize 

 these creatures at the 

 first glance. The eyes 

 are very small, and 

 almost completely 

 hidden in the fur; 

 there are no external 

 ears; the hind-feet 

 are very much elon- 

 gated, curved, and 

 scaly, and have some- 

 thing of the appear- 

 ance of those of a 

 swan, except that 

 they have five well- 

 formed toes. The 

 web extends to the root of the claw on each 

 toe. The scent-glands under the root of the 

 tail diffuse an intolerable and very persistent 

 musk-odour. 



The dentition is very peculiar. In the 

 premaxilla (upper jaw) there is on each side 

 only one large strong incisor, which has a 

 pyramidal form and cutting edges ; and in the 

 same jaw this tooth is followed on each side 

 by a very small canine, five premolars, and 

 four molars each with three pointed cusps. 

 The lower jaw has on each side two incisors 

 placed horizontally, and only three molars. 

 There are thus in all 44 teeth : dental formula 



1 ' i ' 5 '4 



2 ' i ' 5 ' 3' 



