The agouta (Solenodon paradoxus) is an insectivorous mammal peculiar to Haiti. It is of the tanrec family and somewhat larger than a rat. It has the tail devoid of hair and covered with scales, the eyes small, and an elongated nose like the shrews. Another species {Solendon cubanus) is found in Cuba. Research Agouta
The babbler is a family of birds (Timaliidae), of about 233 species which occur throughout the warmer areas of Asia, some of the species extending to Africa and Australia. Ranging from sparrow-sized to jay-sized, they are a very diverse family. Most species are brown, but some have brightly coloured patches. The Pekinrobin, Leiothrix lutea, is greyish above and red and yellow underneath and on the wings. The white-crested laughing thrush, Garrulax leucolophus, one of about forty-five laughing thrushes, is mainly brown but with a striking white head and chest, a black eye-stripe, and bright red eyes. Other groups within the family include parrotbills and the African rockfowl. Most are insectivorous, catching their food with a long, thin beak. Some of the tree-babblers have strongly curved beaks which they use for probing into soft wood and leaves. Many species live in groups of six to twelve and defend a joint territory. The name also applies to the five species of Australo-Papuan babblers, Poma tostomidae. Research Babbler
A bat is a nocturnal, wing-handed, flying mammals, having the forelimb peculiarly modified so as to serve for flight, and constituting the order Cheiroptera (Chiroptera). Bats are sub-divided into two groups; Megachiroptera (the megabats) and Microchiroptera (the microbats).
Bats are structurally not very different from typical mammals except for the extension of their finger bones to carry flight membranes, and their backward bending knees, though their conquest of the air is a marked difference. Echolocation in bats is associated with large ears and in some cases facial skin growths, and the ability to catch flying insects at night. This food source is seasonal, which, combined with their small size, has favoured the evolution of hibernation. Daily torpor, in which the body temperature drops to the ambient temperature is common among temperate bats, and is another energy-saving adaptation necessitated by small bodies engaged in such a high energy activity as flying. Short migrations to roosts of appropriate temperatures occur throughout the year. Mating begins in the autumn, and continues at intervals throughout hibernation. Sperm is stored and ovulation and fertilisation take place in the spring with a typical litter of just one young occurring. The parent shows a strong degree of attachment for her offspring, and when they are captured, will follow them, and even submit to captivity herself rather than forsake her charge.
Bats are common in temperate and warm regions. but are most numerous and largest in the tropics. All European bats are small, and have a mouse-like skin. The body of the largest British species, Vespertilio noctula, is less than that of a mouse, but its wings stretch about 38 cm. During the day it remains in caverns, in the crevices of ruins, hollow trees, and such-like lurking-places, and flits out at evening in search of food, which consists of insects.
Several species of the same genus are common in North America, Many bats are remarkable for having a singular nasal cutaneous appendage, bearing in some cases, a fancied resemblance to a horse-shoe. Two of these horse-shoebats occur in Britain. Bats may be conveniently divided into two sections - the insectivorous or carnivorous, comprising all European and most African and American species; and the fruit-eating, belonging to tropical Asia and Australia, with several African forms. An Australian fruit-eating bat (Pteropus edulis) commonly known as the kalong or flying-fox, is the largest of all the bats; it does much mischief in orchards. At least two species of South American bats are known to suck the blood of other mammals, and thence are called 'vampire-bats' (though this name has also been given to a species not guilty of this habit). The best known is the Desmodus Rufus of Brazil, Chilli, etc. Research Bat
The Bulau or Tikus (Gymnura Rafflesii) is an insectivorous mammal of the hedgehog kind, but belonging to a distinct family native to Sumatra. It has a long muzzle, fur interspersed with bristles, a naked tail and glands which secrete musk. Research Bulau
The elephant-shrew or jumping-shrew (Macroscelides) is a small insectivorous mammal, of which there are several species, all found in Africa. They are ground animals, nocturnal in habit, and receive their first common name from their prolonged snouts, and their second from their method of locomotion. The jumping movements are facilitated by the length of the hind legs. Research Elephant-Shrew
Entomophaga ('insect eaters') is a term applied to (1) a group of hymenopterous insects whose larvse feed upon living insects. (2) A tribe of marsupials, as the opossums, bandicoots, etc, which are insectivorous, though not exclusively so. (3) A section of the edentates, as the ant-eater and pangolin. Research Entomophaga
The fly-catcher is several species of insectivorous birds of the genus Muscicapa, tribe of Dentirostres, with a bill flattened at the base, almost triangular, notched at the upper mandible and beset with bristles. Two species are British - the spotted flycatcher (Muscicapa grisula) and the pied fly-catcher (Muscicapa (or ficedula) atricapilla), both about the size of a sparrow. They perch on branches and wait motionless for passing insects which they dart at and catch with a snap of the bill. The white-collared fly-catcher (Muscicapa albicollis) is a native of southern Europe. Numerous other birds receive the name of fly-catchers, and some, as the paradise flycatchers of the Old World, are brilliantly coloured. In America some of the tyrant birds (Tyrannidae) are named fly-catchers. Research Fly-Catcher
The flying lemur (Cologus) is an insectivorous mammal not related to the lemurs, but more nearly akin to the Insectivores, differing however, sufficiently to be placed in a distinct order, the Dermoptera. Flying lemurs are found from the Malay Peninsular to the Philippine Islands, are represented by several species, all arboreal in habit and feeding on leaves and fruit. Research Flying Lemur
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Agouta
