THE TANREC. 



453 



months of the year, secure in the burrow which it has excavated by means of the 

 powerful and crooked claws which are attached to its feet. 



Some writers assert that its period of torpidity is during the heat of summer, while 

 others, who have had practical knowledge of the animal and its habits, say that its 

 periodic somnolence takes place during the cold and wintry months. These contra- 

 dictory accounts can be reconciled by the fact, that the Mauritian winter is from June to 

 November, and that the months which in that island are reckoned as summer months, 

 are winter months with ourselves. 



It is not very commonly seen, even in the localities which it most frequents, as it is 

 a nocturnal animal, and, except when under the protection of the shades of night, very 

 seldom leaves the burrow in which it has taken up its residence. The locality which it 

 chooses for its subterranean residence is generally well chosen for the purpose of 

 security, being usually among the old roots of clumps of bamboos, which defend and 

 conceal the entrance, and offer an almost insurmountable obstacle to any foe that might 

 desire to dig the animal out of its den. 



The natural food r-f the Tanrec consists of worms, insects, snails, reptiles, and various 

 similar substances, but the creature will condescend to feed for a time on more sophis- 



TANREC. Ceatetes ecaudatus. 



ticated dainties, such as boiled rice. It is supposed that an unmixed vegetable diet 

 would be very hurtful to the animal's well-being. 



Possessed of a most overpowering and unpleasant smell of musk, the Tanrec is not 

 an animal which would be supposed to furnish an agreeable article of diet to any one, 

 except to a starving man in the last extremity of hunger. Yet the natives of Mada- 

 gascar esteem it among their rarest luxuries, and are so tenacious of this very powerful 

 food, that they can hardly be induced to part with a specimen which they have captured, 

 and which they have already dedicated in anticipation, to the composition of some 

 wonderful specimen of the cook's art. 



The Tanrec is an inhabitant of Madagascar, as may be deduced from its popular title 

 of Madagascar Hedgehog, but has been taken to the Mauritius and there naturalized. 



THERE are other species of the Madagascar Hedgehog, besides the tanrec, among 

 which are recognized the TENDRAC,- or SPINY TENREC (Centres spinosus\ and the 

 BANDED TENREC (Centetes Madagascarensis}. 



The former of these animals is inferior in size to the tanrec, being only five or six 



