. The geography of mammals. o survive. Among the Malayan Rodents we find the squirrels(Sciwrid&) even more abundant than in the Last Sub-region. Two of the species belong to a separate genus (//// ilhrosriurns) which does not occur elsewhere. Thereare also two endemic genera Of rats (Mii rid:r)- one (Phlsecyniys)from the Philippines, the other(Pithechvrus)from Sumatra and .lava. A genus of Porcupines (Trichys), which differs fromA/licriirii in several important crania] characters, is con-fined to Borneo. Three genera of Malayan Carnivores are worthy ofspecial mention. One of these is Hemigale,
. The geography of mammals. o survive. Among the Malayan Rodents we find the squirrels(Sciwrid&) even more abundant than in the Last Sub-region. Two of the species belong to a separate genus (//// ilhrosriurns) which does not occur elsewhere. Thereare also two endemic genera Of rats (Mii rid:r)- one (Phlsecyniys)from the Philippines, the other(Pithechvrus)from Sumatra and .lava. A genus of Porcupines (Trichys), which differs fromA/licriirii in several important crania] characters, is con-fined to Borneo. Three genera of Malayan Carnivores are worthy ofspecial mention. One of these is Hemigale, not very farremoved from the Palm-cats, with two species, a second one having been recently discovered hy Mr. Hose in themountains of Borneo. The second is Cynogale, also belonging to the same family. The latter, which is semi-aquatic in its habits, and bears a superficial resemblance IU THE GEOGRAPHY OF MAMMALS to an otter, is found in the Malay Peninsula, Borneo, andSumatra. A third endemic Carnivore, Mydaiis, which,. Fig. 28.—The Orang. (Simla satyrus.) like the American Skunk, is remarkable for the verypowerful odour emitted from its anal glands, was originally THE ORIENTAL REGION 145 described from the mountains of Java, but has since beenobtained from Sumatra and Borneo. Of the Insectivores by far the most important genus inthe Malayan Sub-region is the Tree-shrew (Tupaia), ofwhich at least a dozen species are here found. The Tree-shrews are small animals, of the general appearance ofsquirrels, that live chiefly among the branches of trees,and, like the squirrels, sit on their haunches and use theirfore limbs for holding their food. An allied genus, withan elegant double fringe of long hair to its tail (Ptilocercus),is confined to Sumatra and Borneo. Tarsius, belonging to a distinct family of Lemurs,inhabits the forests of most of the islands of the Sub-region,as well as Celebes. It is a small animal, about the size ofa squirrel, deriving its name from the fact that th
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookidgeogra, booksubjectmammals
