1. Tendrac; 2. Telfair’s Tendrac; 3. Tanrec _To face page_ 359 Dentition of Tanrec 359 The Agouta 362 Upper Jaw of West African River Shrew 363 Lower Jaw of West African River Shrew--The West African River Shrew 364 Skull of Golden Mole--Dentition of Golden Mole 365 Sternum of Golden Mole--Fore Foot of Golden Mole 366 The Common Mole 367 Dentition of Common Mole--Fore Limbs of Common Mole--Sternum of Common Mole 368 Mole’s Fortress 370 Side View of Snout of Star-nosed Mole--Front View of Snout of Star-nosed Mole 372 Dentition of Desman 375 1. Pigmy Shrew; 2. Common Shrew; 3 and 4. Water Shrew _To face page_ 377 Dentition of Common Shrew 377 Rat-tailed Shrew 379 INTRODUCTION. [Illustration] The Natural History of Animals has always been a most interesting and instructive subject, and its popularity increases year after year. It is a branch of knowledge which is entertaining at every age, and it is a favourite study with men of every race and country, and of every intellectual capacity. All children delight in having their little tasks associated with pictures of animals, and the alphabet is learned all the more readily by its being illustrated with spirited drawings of household pets and the terrible creatures of the woods. The marvels of the intelligence of the dog and horse are inexhaustible sources of delight to young readers; and there are few greater pleasures than those which are felt when living animals, whose descriptions and habits have been the subject of instruction and amusement, are seen in some large menagerie or zoological gardens. On the whole, it is probable that few books are so interesting to young men and women as those which relate to animals, and it is their study which, in the majority of instances, leads to the desire for further knowledge of Natural History. The young student soon begins to yearn for information regarding the manner in which different creatures live; how some breathe air, how others live in water; how it is that some fly and others crawl; and he desires to connect the peculiar construction of animals with their method of life. Or he may be content with endeavouring to understand the names of animals, and the reasons why they are arranged or classified in a particular manner by scientific men.