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THE ELEPHANT SHREW. 



The elongation of the nose, which has already been noticed in the 

 Tupaias of Sumatra, seems to have reached the utmost limit in those 

 curious inhabitants of the Cape that are called, from their elephantine 

 elongation of nose, the Elephant Shrews. Several species of 

 Elephant Shrews are known to exist, all of which, with one exception, 

 are inhabitants of Southern Africa. The solitary exception, MacrosceUdes 

 Boretti, is found in Algeria. 



The peculiarly long nose of the Elephant Shrew is perforated at its 

 extremity by the nostrils, which are rather obliquely placed, and is sup- 



Elephant Shrews {MacrosceUdes Froboscideus). 



posed to aid the animal in its search after the insects and other crea- 

 tures on which it feeds. The eyes are rather large in proportion to the 

 size of the animal. 



The tail is long and slender, much resembling the same organ in the 

 common mouse, and in some specimens, probably males, is furnished at 

 the base with glandular follicles, or little sacs. The legs are nearly of 

 equal size, but the hinder limbs are much longer than the fore-legs, on 

 account of the very great length of the feet, which are capable of afford- 

 ing support to the creature as it sits in an upright position. As might 

 be presumed from the great length of the hinder limbs, the Elephant 

 Shrew is possessed of great locomotive powers, and when alarmed can 

 skim over the ground with such celerity that its form becomes quite ob- 



