6 4 



THE MAMMALS OF ETHIOPIAN AFRICA 



representatives on the eastern side ; the majority being referable to the typical genus 

 Macroscelides. These jumpiug-shrews appear to represent in Africa the tree- 

 shrews, or tupais of Asia. Many species are five-toed, but others are characterised 

 by lacking the first toe of the hind-foot, on which account they are regarded by 

 many modern naturalists as representing a distinct generic type, under the name 

 of Petrodromus, the typical representative of this section being the eastern 

 M. (P.) tetradactylus. Largest of all are the giant jumping-shrews of East Africa, 

 of which the black and chestnut Rhynchocyoii petersi and the olive-coloured and 



JDMPING-SHREW. 



light-spotted R. cernaysii are well-known examples. In this genus the trunk is 

 longer and the hind-feet are relatively shorter than in typical jumping-shrews, the 

 number of toes being four to each foot. 



One of the most remarkable of the African insect-eaters is the otter-shrew 

 (Potamogale velox), which represents a family by itself. This animal, which 

 measures about 18 inches in length, was long supposed to be peculiar to the west 

 coast, but has been recently discovered on the eastern side of the forest-zone in the 

 neighbourhood of the Semliki. In general appearance it may be compared to a 

 miniature otter ; but the resemblance is mainly restricted to the flattened head, 

 elongated body, short limbs, and the long and greatly compressed tail. The otter- 



