3 i6 



INSECTIVORES. 



Distribution. 



Numerous species of this genus are found over a large part of 

 the African continent, their range extending from the Cape to Algiers; 

 and most of them being very much alike, both as regards size, form, and colour. 

 The species figured here is the Cape jumping shrew, a tawny-brown animal of 

 about 5 inches in length, exclusive of the tail; the length of the latter being 

 about 3 inches. They are very common in South Africa, where they dwell 

 among grass and bushes, coming forth at dusk from their hiding-places to scour 

 the plains in search of their insect food. The Algerian jumping shrew (M. rozeti) 

 is a very similar animal, known to the French colonists of the districts it inhabits 

 as the rat a trompe, which is said to vary the insect diet of the Cape species with 



CAPE JUMPING SHREW (| nat. size). 



an admixture of vegetable food. Like the tree-shrews, this species can be readily 

 tamed, and soon becomes familiar, not to say impudent. 



Eock Jumping Of larger size than any of the other species of the genus, is the 



shrew. rock, jumping shrew (M. tetradactylus), of the Mozambique coast of 

 East Africa, which derives its name from dwelling in rocky districts, where it 

 conceals itself in the crannies and clefts of rocks. The most important characteristic 

 of this species is, however, the presence of only four toes to the hind-feet, the small 

 inner toes found in the other species having disappeared. It is likewise peculiar in 

 having but forty teeth, owing to the loss of the last molar on either side of the 

 lower jaw. 



Long-nosed More remarkable than any of the above are the long-nosed 



Jumping Shrew, jumping shrews, of which there are four species from Zanzibar and 

 the adjacent regions of the East Coast of Africa. These collectively constitute the 

 genus Rhynchocyon, distinguished from the preceding group by having only 

 thirty-six teeth, and but four toes on both fore- and hind-feet. Further, the hind- 



