. The popular natural history . Zoology. 104 THE PEN-TAIL. head and body is not quite four inches in measurement, and the tail is about three inches and a quarter. The extraordinary animal which has been recently brought before the notice of zoologists, under the characteristic name of Pen-tail, is a native of Borneo, from which country it was brought by Mr. Hugh Low. It is about the size of a small rat, but appears to be of greater dimen- sions on account of its extremely long tail with the remarkable ap- pendage at its extremity. As may be seen from the engraving, the tail is of extraordinar
. The popular natural history . Zoology. 104 THE PEN-TAIL. head and body is not quite four inches in measurement, and the tail is about three inches and a quarter. The extraordinary animal which has been recently brought before the notice of zoologists, under the characteristic name of Pen-tail, is a native of Borneo, from which country it was brought by Mr. Hugh Low. It is about the size of a small rat, but appears to be of greater dimen- sions on account of its extremely long tail with the remarkable ap- pendage at its extremity. As may be seen from the engraving, the tail is of extraordinary length when compared with the size of the body, and is devoid of hair except at its extremity, where it is furnished with a double row of stiff hairs on each side, which stand boldly out like the barbs of a quill-pen or the feathers of an arrow. The remainder of the tail is covered with scales, which are square in their form, like those of the long-tailed rats, and of con- siderable size. The colour of the tail is black, and the bristly barbs are white, so that this member pre- sents a peculiarly quaint aspect. The fur which covers the body of the Pen-tail is extremely soft in tex- ture, and is of a blackish brown tint above, fading into a yellowish grey beneath. As the tips of the hairs are tinged with a yellow hue, the precise tint of the fur is rather indeterminate, and is changeable, according to the position of the hairs which are exposed to view. The specimen which is preserved in the British Museum was captured by Mr. Low in the house of Sir James Brook, the first Rajah of Sarawak. The common Hedgehog, Hedge PIG, or Urchin, is one of the most familiar of our indigenous mam- malia, being found in every part of Great Britain which is capable of affording food and shelter. The hard round spines which cover the upper part of its body are about an inch in length, and of a rather peculiar shape, which is well represented in the accompanying sketch. This form is wonderfully a
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1884
