THE STORY OF THE TENREC. 



There lives in Madagascar an insect-eating animal which has many of 

 the characteristics of the hedgehog. The name tenrec is given the group, 

 which comprises several species. They are defended with spines, and can 

 roll themselves into a ball as the hedgehog does. I have watched the creature 

 defend itself against the attack of a dog and do' it so' successfully that the 

 dog retired howling with pain. 



These animals are a great pest tO' the agriculturists of Madagascar, owing 

 toi the damage they inflict on the rice crops by burrowing in the earth beneath 

 the young plants in search of worms and insects. 



They pass one-half of the year is a state of torpidity. About May or June 

 they dig themselves holes, in which they sleep until December, with their 

 heads comfortably tucked away between the hind legs. Their burrows are 

 generally betrayed by the presence of a small heap of earth or moss thro'wn 

 up at the entrance. The animals at this time are very fat, and are regarded 

 as great delicacies by the natives of Madagascar. The inhabitants hunt the 

 tenrecs with dogs, trained expressly for the purpose. They live chiefly in 

 the mountains, in places co'vered with mosses, ferns and bushes. Their food 

 consists principally of earthworms, which they rout out by means of their 

 feet and pointed snouts, using the latter after the fashion of a pig. Insects 

 alsoi form a part O'f their diet ; and like the hedgehogs, they feed upon certain 



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