FAMILY TUPAID^E. ANALOGIES TO RODENTIA. 201 



exhale a strong musky odour. The Gymnurus of Sumatra 

 appears to approach the Tenrecs and Hedgehogs in its dentition, 

 as well as in its spiny covering ; but it has the long scaly tail, 

 and pointed muzzle, of the Shrews. 



179. The last family, that of TUPAIDJE, at present contains 

 only one genus, the Tupaia, or Banxrmg ; a remarkable animal, 

 of which only three species are known to exist, and these are 

 inhabitants of Sumatra and Java. They differ so decidedly in 

 conformation and habits from the other Insectivora, as not to be 

 capable of being placed in any of the preceding families ; and 

 they must, therefore, constitute a group by themselves. Instead 

 of being strictly terrestrial in their habits, like the other Insect- 

 ivora, they lead the life of Squirrels ; and have all the spright- 

 liness and activity, together with much of the general appearance, 

 of those animals. They are covered with soft and glistening 

 hair, and have a long, bushy tail ; so that, if it were not for their 

 long, pointed snout, they could not be easily distinguished at a 

 distance from Squirrels. Their habits are diurnal ; and they 

 feed on fruits and Insects. 



180. We can scarcely take even a cursory view, like the 

 present, of the different forms contained in the order Insectivora, 

 without perceiving that it offers many striking analogies to the 

 Rodentia, far distant as that order undoubtedly is. The analogy 

 between the Shrews and the Mice, the Water Shrews and the 

 Water Rats or Voles, the Hedgehogs and the Porcupines, and 

 the Banxrings and the Squirrels, is very obvious ; and it may 

 not be altogether so far-fetched a comparison as it appears at first 

 sight, to compare the Mole and the Beaver, both being distin- 

 guished above all the rest of their respective orders for their 

 instinctive propensities, these propensities being directed towards 

 the construction of their habitations, and the whole conforma- 

 tion of each being modified in accordance with its particular 

 object ; the dwelling of the Mole being excavated beneath the 

 surface of the ground, and that of the Beaver being erected above 

 it. Altogether it may be afiirmed that the Insectivora hold a 

 rank in the Carnivorous division of the Mammalia, analogous to 

 that which the Rodentia take in the Herbivorous. Both would 





