ORDER CARNASSIER. 207 



to those of the Hedgehog. Like that animal, they have cla- 

 vicles, and are destitute of the great intestines and of a 

 cascum ; but they differ in the fleshy panicle, which is not 

 organized so as to envelop them as it were in a purse. The 

 Tenrecs have the tibia and perona distinct, but they are so 

 intimately connected as not to be able to play on each 

 side. 



We know but little of this sub-genus. They dig in the 

 earth and remain there during the day, and are said to 

 sleep for three months in the year, not indeed in win- 

 ter, but, on the contrary, during the greatest heat of sum- 

 mer, as Buffon informs us, on the authority of Bruguiere. 



The Tenrec, properly speaking, the Tenrec or Tanrec of 

 Buffon, is about eight inches long and formed a good deal 

 like a Hedgehog, except that it is rather more elongated. 

 The spines, which cover all its upper parts, are yellowish 

 at the root and black in the remainder, the longest not ex- 

 ceeding an inch ; they form a sort of tuft above the head. 

 The back, crupper, and sides of the body are covered with 

 silky hairs of the same colour as the spines ; rough yel- 

 lowish hairs cover the throat, breast, belly, and legs ; the 

 ears are very short ; the muzzle very elongated, of a 

 brownish colour : the nails are crooked, strong, and calcu- 

 lated for digging. 



Their flesh, like that of most of the insectivorous ani- 

 mals, is unpleasant to the taste ; notwithstanding which, 

 as Buffon informs us, it is eaten by the Indians with much 

 avidity. 



The Tendrac {Erinaceus Setosus, Gin.,) is smaller than 

 the Tenrec, not exceeding 5 inches in length. Its body is 

 covered with silky flexible hairs, of a pale yellow colour ; 

 the top of the head, and upper part of the neck and shoulders 

 are furnished with numerous small strong spines, those be- 

 hind the head, particularly, elevated almost into a tuft ; they 

 are white at their base, and deep red toward the point ; 



