Desman. 



249 



THE DESMAN. 



The Desman (Myogale-moschata), sometimes called the 

 Russian Muskrat, and also the AVuychuchol or Musk Shrew, 

 although it approaches nearer to the Mole in appearance 

 than the Shrews, has comparatively narrow feet that are 

 not specially fitted for digging like those of the great 

 burrowing Inseetivores. It is a peculiar looking little 

 animal about ten inches long, exclusive of the six inch 

 tail. It has no external ears and the eyes are very small. 

 The muzzle is elongated into a small four inch proboscis 



Desman. 



which is constantly in motion. The tail is scaly and 

 flattened at the sides, and makes a powerful swimming 

 organ, and the feet have the five toes fully webbed so 

 the animal is entirely aquatic. It lives in burrows in 

 the banks of the lakes and rivers of its habitat, the 

 entrances to which are beneath the surface of the water. 

 The Desman feeds on insects, leeches and similar food, 

 which it finds in the mud and beneath the stones. There 

 are four genera of the family found in different parts of 

 Europe and Asia, and one in South America ; but the type 

 representative of the family Myogalidae is the species 

 described in this article, which is confined to southeastern 

 Europe and western Asia. Like the otter and other 

 aquatic animals, the Desman has an outer coat of long 

 stiff hairs to protect the fine, dense, soft, short under-fur, 

 which is purplish brown on the back, and silvery white 

 on the belly, and is used to some extent for trimmings, 

 glove tops and similar purposes. 



