The Bats and Insect^eating Mammals 



169 



THE IXSECTIVORA, OR FLIGHTLESS INSECT-EATERS. 



Some members of this group have departed from the traditional insect diet. Thus the 

 cobego feeds upon leaves, a curious aquatic shrew the Potamogale of West Africa upon fish, 

 and the moles upon worms. 



The group has a very wide geographical distribution, but there are nevertheless large 

 portions of the globe in which they are conspicuous by their absence. They are never found 

 in Australia or South America. Madagascar, Africa, and the West India Islands produce the 



most remarkable forms. 



THE COBEGO. 



This is a peculiarly inter- 

 esting animal, which lives in 

 the forests of Sumatra, Borneo, 

 the Malay Peninsula, and the 

 Philippine Islands. It dwells 

 among the trees, moving from 

 one to another by taking 

 flying leaps through the air, 

 covering as much as seventy 

 yards at a jump. Prodigious 

 leaps like this would be quite 

 impossible but for the fact 

 that the animal, which is 

 almost as large as a cat, is 

 provided with a sort of para- 

 chute, formed by a broad web 

 of skin stretched between the 

 body on either side and the 

 fore and hind limbs, and 

 between the hind limbs and 

 the tail. 



SHREWS, HEDGEHOGS, 



AND TENRECS. 

 The variation in form 

 presented by the members 

 of this group is considerable. 

 The most noteworthy examples 

 of this variation are furnished 

 by the pretty little squirrel- 

 like TREE-SHREWS of India 

 and Borneo and neighbouring 

 lands, the mouse-like JUMPING-SHREWS of Africa, the HEDGEHOGS, the TENRECS, the elegant 

 little MOUSE-LIKE SHREWS of almost world-wide distribution, and the WATER-SHREWS. Of these, 

 hedgehogs and tenrecs have undergone the greatest transformation. By a curious modification 

 of their original hairy covering they have developed a formidable armour of sharp spines 

 When alarmed, the former roll themselves up into a ball by the contraction of powerful 

 muscles, and so present an almost impregnable armour to an enemy. Stoats and^ ioxes, 

 however, appear at least occasionally to succeed in overcoming this defence and 

 meal of the vanquished. . 



Tenrecs are found in Madagascar. The COMMON TENREC is the largest of all insect-eaters, 



fim 



Photo by W. Saville-Kent, F.Z.S.] 



[Croydon. 



COBEGO. 



Vertical (front) view of the cobego, with newly born and naked young attached. Note the 

 extension of the membrane between the toes of the fore feet of the adult. 



