OEDBE OF INSECTIVOEA. 513 



Genus Solenodon. — The Solenodons differ very little from the 

 Shrew Mice, except in their dentition. They have a long, bare, 

 scaly tail, and inhabit the New World, that is, the islands of 

 Hayti and Cuba. Only one species is known, the Solenodon 

 paradoxal. 



Along with the Solenodons, it is convenient to place a little 

 animal discovered in Japan about twenty years ago, and for which 

 some authors have created a new genus. This is the Urstriche, 

 whose principal characteristics, besides the general form of the 

 Shrew Mouse, are an elongated, movable snout, and a long tufted 

 tail. 



Genus Macroscelides. — Authorities separate this genus from the 



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Fig. 224. — The Elephant Shiew (J/, proboscideus). 



preceding. The Macroscelides, or, more familiarly, Elephant 

 Shrews, are essentially leaping animals; it is the Jerboa type 

 transferred to the Insectivora. Thej' have the posterior members 

 much longer than the anterior ; hence their name, which, accord- 

 ing to the Greek etymology, signifies lai-ge thighs {ixaKpoi large, 

 ffKt'Xos, thigh). Their eyes are more apparent than those of the 

 Shrew Mice and Moles ; their ears are well developed, and their 

 muzzle is prolonged into a trunk. The body is thick and short, 

 the tail long, and scantily furnished with hair. They are very 

 small, measuring about four inches when standing up. Naturally 

 gentle and graceful, they soon gain the sympathy of Man, and 



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