MACROSCELIDES BRACHYRYNCHUS.
rather rigid and strongly recumbent. For form of skull and characters of
teeth, vide Plate XV. 4 a, 4 b, and 4 c.
DIMENSIONS.
Inches Lines, Inches Lin
ength from the tip of the proboscis Length of the hind-legs...................... 2 8
to the point of the tail....... 8 0 of the tarsus............................ 0 10
of the head ............................ 1 8 of the toes............................... 0 2
of the proboscis .................... 0 3 Distance between the proboscis and the
3 6 0 8
0 between the eye and the ear.
Height-when standing .........................
0
of the fore-legs........................ 1 2 1 10
As regards colour, both sexes are nearly alike.
The present is 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
find many specimens much to the south of that parallel. Like M. Typicus, it appeared to
inhabit 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
place on the more northerly plains which M. Typicrn holds on those more to the southward.
No opportunity occurred of discovering the nature of the positions in which this species secretes
itself 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.