78 MAMMALIA. 



The SoKiNAH (Echinops, Martin) — 

 Is a Madagascar animal, \vliich differs chiefly from the Urchins in its dentition, having but four upper 

 incisors, of -which the medial are large, and placed before the others ; the superior canines (or w hat 

 may be designated as such) are tuberculated behind ; there ai'e five molars in all to each side of the 

 upper jaw, longitudinally verv"^ short, but broad, a groove passing continuously along their crowns : two 

 small low^er canines, three inferior false molars inchning forw^ard, and four true molars obtusely 

 tuberculated. 

 E. Tclfalriy Mart., is the only ascertained species ; and the fonn may be rc^jarded as subordinate to Erinaceus.'] 



Tut: Texrecs [Centene.-i, lUiger) — 

 Have the body covered with spines, like the Urehins [but more slender and bristle-like] ; they do not, 

 however, possess the faculty of rolling themselves so completely into a ball : they have no tail ; their 

 mnzzle is very pointed, and their teeth are very ditferent. On each jaw are from four to six incisors, 

 and two large canines : next follow one or two small teeth, and four triangular molars with sharply 

 tuberculated crowns. They are natives of Madagascar, one species having been naturalized in the 

 Mauritius : are also nocturnal animals, v\diich pass three months of the year in a state of lethargy, 

 although inhabiting the tonid zone. Brugiere even asserts that it is during the greatest heats that 

 they become torpid. 



[Tliree if not four species liavp been ascertained ; one of "which, the Tendiac of Buflon {Erinaceus setosus, Lin.), 

 with six incisors to each jaw, composes the Ericidus of Is. Geolfroy. 



The foregoing genera have little or no tail, whereas the following have veiy long tails.] 



The GvxMnures (Gi/innura, Vig. and Horsf. [_Echi/iosorej:,'BWin.'] ) — 

 " Appear to approach the Banxring in dentition, and the Shrews by the pointed muzzle and scaly tail. 

 There are five unguiculated toes to each foot, and tolerably stiff [almost spinous] bristles growing 

 among woolly hair, [resembling the close fur of the Shrews.] It can only be properly classed when its 

 anatomy is known."* [The general aspect is that of a Tenrec, "with a long, naked, and scaly tail. There 

 are so. incisors to each jaw, the medial above wi.dely separated, large, and resembhng canines ; the 

 others lateral, and successively smaller: those below are separated into two pairs, the middle ones 

 being somewhat apart, and one smaller on each side. The canines are moderately large, and somewhat 

 curved, those of the upper jaw having two fangs : next follow, on each ja\v, two pairs of small false 

 molars, succeeded by one larger above, and two below ; and the tiue molars are four in number above 

 and three below, square, and tuberculated as in tlie Urchin. 



The only known species {G. Rnfflesil) inhabits Sumatra, and is larger than the Urchin of Europe. 

 The various preceding genera have small but not minute eyes. 



The Machoscelles {MacroscdideSy'&mith; Er'niomys, Blain. ; Rlii/nounjs, Lichst.) — - 

 Compose a well-marked genus, somewhat resembhng the Shrews, but with lai-ge eyes and more elong- 

 ated hiud-fect: their fur is long and soft, and of very fine texture. They have six (lateral) incisors to 

 eacli jaw, minute canines, and on either side five sharply tuberculated molars. Their habits are 

 diurnal, and tluv retreat into burrows or beneath stones on apprehension of danger. 



Eif^ht species are known, all from South Africa except one, which inhabits Algiers. They are called Elephant 

 Mice in the Cape Colony.] 



The Banxrings {Topaia, Raff. ; CladohateSy Fr. Cuv. [C/^-sore.c, Diard. ; IJyiogale, Tern.] ), — 

 A genus lately characterized, from the Indian Archipelago, the teeth of which bear some resemblance 

 to those of the Urehins, only that tlieh: middle superior incisors are pioportionally shorter, and there 

 are four to the lower jaw, more elongated, [and projecting forwards as in the Lemurs] ; they also [do 

 not] want the tuberculous tooth behind. These animals are covered with hair [soft and gUsteniug, but 

 not fine in texture], and have a long bushy tail ; and, contrary to the habits of other hisectivoray 

 they ascend trees with the agihty of a Squin'el, but their pointed muzzle renders them easily distin- 



• Frcj.Ti the Aiipt-iipiix to the nutbor's cJ'tiu)i.-E'~ 



