VERTEBRATA: MAMMALIA. 769 



fore-legs. Two species are known, one found in south-eastern 

 Russia, the other in the Pyrenees. 



Fam. 4. ErinaceidcR. The fourth family of the Insectivora is 

 that of the Hedgehogs, characterised by the fact that the upper 



Fig. 447. Skull of the common Hedgehog (Erinaceus Eriropezus). 



part of the body is covered with prickly spines, the feet are not 

 adapted for digging, and they have the power of rolling them- 

 selves into a ball at the approach of danger. The dental 

 formula of the Hedgehog is 



/3-Zl; ;Sfg ^44. m 3=3 6 . 

 33 oo 22' 33 



The central upper and lower incisors are longer than the 

 others ; and the first praemolars are the largest of all the teeth 

 present. The first upper praemolars are sometimes regarded 

 as canines. The common Hedgehog (Erinaceus Europaus) is 

 in every way a typical example of this family, but is too well 

 known to require any description. Other species of the family 

 are found in North and South Africa and in Asia. 



Fam. 5. Centetidce. The most typical members of this family 

 are the " Tenrecs " (Centetes) of Madagascar. These are small 

 animals resembling the Hedgehogs in appearance and habits, 

 and having the back covered with hair intermixed with fine 

 prickles or spiny bristles, but mostly destitute of the power of 

 rolling themselves into a ball. They have a long proboscis- 

 like nose, and the tail is generally rudimentary or absent. The 

 genera Ericulus, Echinops, and Geogale of the island of Mada- 

 gascar, are allied to Centetes, the last having relationships with 

 the SoriddcK. Likewise related to the Tenrecs is the curious 

 genus Solenodon of Cuba and Hayti, in which the nose is very 

 long and pointed, the tail is long and scaly, and the body is 



