“Our great Dog was bitten, or as the Indians say, stung at the point of the nose by some enormous Bats that hovered round our hammocks. The Dog’s wound was very small and round, and though he uttered a plaintive cry when he felt himself bitten, it was not from pain, but because he was frightened at the sight of the Bats, which came out from beneath our hammocks. These accidents are much more rare than is believed even in the country itself. In the course of several years, notwithstanding we slept so often in the open air, in climates where Vampire Bats and other species are so common, we were never wounded. Besides, the puncture is in no way dangerous, and in general causes so little pain that it often does not awaken the person till after the Bat has withdrawn.” INSECTIVORA—INSECT-EATERS. THE quadrupeds which compose this small but numerous group live principally upon insects, and have their molar teeth studded with sharp points. The habits of the different families are extremely varied. Some for instance, like the Hedgehog, seek their food on the ground, while others like the Tupaia, hunt for it on trees. The Moles, on the other hand, find their subsistence deep in the soil, and live entirely under the ground; while the Desmans, and some species of the Shrew Mice live in or near the water. The Insect-eaters are usually divided into three families—the various kinds of Moles, which are too well known to require special description; the Shrew Mice and their numerous small relatives, including the Water, the Oared and the Elephant Shrew, the Desmans, etc.; and the Hedgehogs—including the Long-eared and the Common Hedgehog, the Tupaia, and other members of this curious prickly family. THE SHREWS. The Common Shrew is a pretty little creature, remarkable for its square tail, which is about two-thirds as long as the body. It lives in meadows, and has been falsely accused by the ignorant of causing by its bite a disease in Horses, and even of witchcraft. The truth seems to be that the Shrew has a strong and peculiar odor, which is very repugnant to Cats; they drive away and kill the Shrew Mouse, but never eat it. It is apparently this circumstance that has been the origin of the prejudice against the supposed venomous bite of this animal, and of the danger of its attacking Cattle, as well as Horses. It is, however, neither venomous nor capable of biting, for it cannot open its mouth sufficiently wide to seize the double thickness of an animal’s skin, which is especially necessary in biting; and the Horse malady attributed by the ignorant to the bite of the Shrew Mouse is a swelling which proceeds from an internal cause, and has nothing to do with the bite, or rather puncture, of this little creature. Its usual abodes, especially in winter, are hay-lofts, stables and barns attached to farm yards; it lives upon insects and decayed animal substances.