MACROSCELIDES BRACHYRYNCHUS. 
rather rigid and strongly recumbent. For form of skull 
teeth, vide Plate XV. 4 a, 4 b, and 4 c. 
and characters of 
DIMENSIONS. 
Inches. Lines, 
.Length from the tip of the proboscis 
to the point of the tail s 0 
of the head j g 
of the proboscis o 3 
of the tail 3 g 
of the ears 0 7 
of the fore-legs 1 2 
Inches. Lines. 
Length of the hind- legs 
2 
s 
of the tarsus 
0 
10 
of the toes 
0 
2 
Distance between the proboscis and the 
eye 
0 
8 
between the eye and the ear. 
0 
4 i 
Height when standing 
1 
10 
As regards colour, both sexes are nearly alike. 
rile present 1S the smallest species of the genus which has yet been found in South Africa 
and by its inferiority of size it is readily to be distinguished from the species already described • 
the shortness of its proboscis also furnishes a good diagnostic character; and should more be 
required, they are to be found in the form of its ears, texture of its fur, &c. Its range does 
not appear to extend much to the southward of the Tropic of Capricorn; at least, we did not 
hnd many specimens much to the south of that parallel. Like M Typicus, it appeared to 
inhabjt open plains, and as no specimens of the species just named were found in the latitudes 
where M brachyrynchus occurred, we may perhaps with propriety regard it as holding the 
pkce on the more northerly plains which M. Typicus holds on those more to the southward 
No opportunity occurred of discovering the nature of the positions in which this species secretes 
1 self when alarmed or enjoying repose; but judging from the nature of the localities in which 
the animal was generally discovered, we little doubt that they consisted of subterranean burrows, 
similar to those inhabited by the species we have just surmised it may probably represent in 
the more northern latitudes. It feeds upon insects. 
