The Bats and Insect^eating Mammals 



169 



The Insectivora, or Flightless Insect-eaters. 



Some members of this group have departed from the traditional insect diet. Thus the 

 cobego feeds upon leaves, a curious aquatic shrew — the Potamogale of West Africa— upon fish, 

 and the moles upon worms. 



The group has a very wide geographical distribution, but there are nevertheless large 

 portions of the glolie in which they are consi)icuous by their absence. They are never found 

 in Australia or t^outh America. Madagascar, Aftica, and the West India Islands produce the 



most remarkable forms. 



The Cobego. 



This is a peculiarly inter- 

 esting animal, which lives in 

 the forests of Sumatra, Borneo, 

 the Malay Peninsula, and the 

 Philippine Islands. It dwells 

 among the trees, moving from 

 one to another by taking 

 flying leaps through the air, 

 covering as much as seventy 

 yards at a jump. Prodigious 

 leaps like this would be quite 

 impossible but for the fact 

 that the animal, which is 

 almost as large as a cat, is 

 provided with a sort of para- 

 chute, formed by a broad web 

 of skin stretched between the 

 body on either side and the 

 fore and hind limits, and 

 between the hind limbs and 

 the tail. 



Shrews, Hedgehogs, 

 AND Tekrecs. 



Tlie variation in form 

 presented by the members 

 of this group is considerable. 

 The most noteworthy examples 

 of this variation are furnished 

 by the pretty little squirrel- 

 like Tree-shrews of India 

 and Borneo and neighbouring 

 lands, the mouse-like Jumpikg-shrews of Africa, the Hedgehogs, the Tenrecs, the elegant 

 little Mouse-like Shrews of almost world-wide distribution, and the Water-shrews. Of these, 

 hedgehogs and tenrecs have undergone the greatest transformation. By a curious modification 

 of their original hairy covering they have developed a formidable armour of sharp spines. 

 When alarmed, the former roll themselves up into a ball by the contraction of jiowerful 

 muscles, and so pjresent an almost impregnalile armour to an enemy. Stoats and foxes, 

 however, appear at least occasionally to succeed in overcoming this defence and making a 

 meal of the vanquished. 



Tenrecs are found in Madagascar. The Common Tenrec is the largest of all insect-eaters, 



22 



PiMto Ijij 71'. Savilk-KcU, F.Z.S.] 



[Croi/doa. 



COBEGO. 



Vertical (front) view of the cobego, with newly born and naked yowng attached. Note the 



extension of tlie membrane between the toes of the fore feet of the adult. 



