514 
MAMMALIA. 
willingly submit to captivity. They are also easily fed, their 
aliment being insects and herbage. 
The Macroscelides inhabit Africa, and live in arid stony places. 
Three species are known, two of which are peculiar to Cafiraria, 
and one to Barbary. The last is the M. Rozet, and is common 
enough in Algeria, especially in the neighbourhood of Bone and 
Oran, where it is known as the Trunked Bat. 
Genus Rhynchocyon . — The Bhynchocyons are also leaping 
animals, consequently have the hind quarters more elevated than 
the fore ones, but their bodies are more slim, and they are 
altogether larger than the Macroscelides. Besides this, they are 
tetradactylous — that is, their limbs are terminated by only four 
toes. 
The only species of the genus that is known belongs to the j 
Mozambique. Nothing is certain as to its habits. 
Genus Desman . — The Desmans are specially organised for an j 
aquatic existence. The hind paws are palmated, and their tail 
is flattened at a certain portion of its length, in such a manner 
as to play the part of an oar. Their eyes are very small, and 
their ears scarcely visible. The body is elongated and covered 
with silky hair of an iridescent hue. At the base of the tail are 
numerous glands, which exhale an excessively penetrating odour. 
The nose is terminated by a small compressed trunk ; the paws 
are formed of five toes, and are furnished with strong claws. 
The Desmans live on the banks of lakes and rivers ; they pursue 
Insects, Molluscs, Frogs, and even Fish. Two species common to 
Europe are known : the Muscovite Desman and the Desman of the 
Pyrenees. 
As its name indicates, the Muscovite Desman is found in 
Bussia. Its size is about double that of our Water Bat ; the 
odour it exhales is such that it taints the flesh of the fish that 
are voracious enough to feed on the dead creatures belonging to ; 
this species. 
The Desman of the Pyrenees (Fig. 225) is much smaller than 
the preceding; it is common among the little water-courses in J 
the department of the Hautes-Pyrenees. 
Family of Hedgehogs. — In this family are found the bulkiest 
Insectivora, and those which present the least remarkable features 
