IN CAPTIVITY IN LOWER BENGAL. 109 



(112) THE THEE SHREW. 

 (TUPAIA ELLIOTI—Waterhowe.) 



In general appearance it resembles a squirrel, but its teeth and point- 

 ed head show that it is not one. Its colour is yellowish brown, speckled 

 above, with a variable tinge of rusty red on the upper surface of the tail, 

 the rump and back. The whole upper surface is often uniformly rusty 

 brown ; lower surface of the body whitish or whitish grey ; a distinct 

 shoulder stripe present. Length of the head and body of a full-grown 

 animal from 7 to 8 inches ; tail with hairs 8 to 9 inches. 



Hob. — A large part of the peninsula of India. The hills near 

 Monghyr have supplied the garden with specimens. 



Length of life in captivity. 

 No specimen has lived in the garden for more than nine months. 



Treatment in health. 



Sousing. — Having regard to its habits in a wild state, it may be 

 treated like a squirrel. It should have a tolerably large space, pro- 

 portionate to its size and suitable to its active habits, carefully avoiding 

 damp and wet. As it is not addicted to biting and gnawing like 

 a squirrel, thin wooden frames may safely be used for its cage. A small 

 retiring box is indispensable to its comfort. 



Food,— Being insectivorous, it may be fed on cockroaches, grasshop- 

 pers, crickets, beetles, &c. ; it also eats eggs, minced meat, and may be 

 tried with bread and milk. 



Transport. — No particular remarks are necessary, as it may be easily 

 transported like civets and smaller cats. 



Habits. — Its habits and movements, though essentially active, are 

 distinguishable from those of a squirrel. It is very shy in captivity. 

 For detailed information about the structure and distribution of this 

 animal the following books may be consulted : " Anatomical and 

 Zoological Eesearches " — Anderson ; " Fauna of British India — 

 Mammalia"-— Blanford. 



(113) HARDWICKE'S HEDGEHOG. 



(ERINACEUS COLLARIS— Gray & Hardw.) 



Hedgehogs are small ratlike insectivorous animals ; their charac- 

 teristic feature being the presence of small spines on the back and sides. 

 They are popularly known as Kantachna or Sha/d-chua — that is, spiny 

 rat or porcupine rat. In this species the spines on the head are not 

 divided by bare space in the middle line, and its colour is dark. 



Hah. — Throughout the Punjab, Sindh, and North-Western India, 



