THE NATURAL HISTORY OF 

 SOUTH AFRICA 



Order: INSECTIVORA 

 INSECT-EATING MAMMALS 



THE animals which are classified under this order 

 are all Insect-eaters, as the name implies. Their 

 teeth are specially adapted for crushing the hard 

 body-cases of insects, and for chewing them up. 

 The upper or molar teeth have sharp cusps or 

 points arranged in a W- or a V-shaped pattern. 

 The incisor or front teeth are not chisel-like, as is 

 the case with all the Gnawing or Rodent group of 

 animals, such as rats, hares, rabbits, etc. 



In all the South African species or kinds of 

 insect-eating animals, the canine teeth are small 

 and can barely be recognised from the rest. Whereas 

 with the Carnivora or Flesh-eating animals, the 

 canine teeth are large and pointed, and can be 

 recognised at a glance. There are a number of 

 other differences which distinguish this order of 

 animals from those grouped under the various other 

 orders, with which a student may acquaint himself 

 on reference to any technical work on Zoology. 



VOL. IV I 



