172 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



belly, and the limbs, are covered with silken and whitish 

 hairs. Those on the upper part of the eyes are of a deep 

 brown, those of the temples long and blackish. 



According to Seba, who seems to have been deceived re- 

 specting this point, it inhabits Dutch Guiana, and is sup- 

 ported by fruits, roots, herbs, and the larvae or eggs of ants. 

 Its flesh is white and delicate, and the inhabitants are said 

 to use it as food. D'Azzara suspects, and apparently with 

 good reason, that this animal is the same which he has 

 mentioned under the name of Couy, and which belongs to 

 the genus Hystrix. 



The next family of the Insectivora, according to our au- 

 thor's arrangement, are the Shrews (Sorex), in French, 

 Musaraignes. These little animals have been known at 

 all times in Europe, and compared, from their littleness and 

 the meagreness of their limbs, to spiders. This resemblance 

 seemed to form so decided a trait in the conformation of 

 the animal, that from it its French name is obviously de- 

 rived. Pliny speaks of it under the appellation of Mus 

 Araneus, and from this, in French, was formed first Musa- 

 ragne, then Muserain, and finally Musaraigne. 



The first part of this appellation (Mus) indicates that 

 the Shrew was originally supposed to belong to that nume- 

 rous group of the smaller Rodentia. This notion was so 

 implicitly received, that we find no variation except in its 

 specific araneus, which, however, the greater number of 

 naturalists adopted. Some Italians changed it for Ccecus, 

 and Gessner gave the Shrew the name of Moschius, on ac- 

 count of the peculiar musky odour which it exhales. 



It was soon, however, observed, that the Shrews formed 

 a group of animals entirely isolated, and bearing small re- 

 lat on to the Glires. Upon this it was thought necessary 

 to establish the new genus, Sorex, and the necessity of 

 so doing was more especially recognised, after Daubenton 

 had explained and taught naturalists thoroughly to appre- 



