x.] INSECTIVORA. 175 



and narrow skull (both cranium and face partaking of the 

 same character), with very prominent occipital and sagittal 

 crests. Both in this genus and in Erinaceiis (the Hedge- 

 hog) the mesopterygoid fossa at the base of the skull is 

 very deep, and ends posteriorly in a hemispherical depression 

 in the basisphenoid, between the wing-like processes which 

 abut against the inner wall of the tympanic. Both parocci- 

 pital and mastoid processes are also well developed. 



The Moles (Talpidce) have an elongated and depressed 

 cranium, broad posteriorly, and gradually narrowing to the 

 muzzle. The occiput slopes upwards and forwards, the 

 supraoccipital being greatly developed. The zygomatic 

 arches are complete, but very slender, and show no dis- 

 tinct malar bones. There are no postorbital or paroccipital 

 processes. A lamelliform expansion of the upper edge of 

 the periotic (pterotic, Parker) forms part of the lateral wall of 

 the cranium, as in the Echidna. The tympanic is united 

 with the other bones of the cranium to form a flattened 

 bulla, produced into a short meatus with a small external 

 opening. There is a small " prenasal " ossicle at the anterior 

 extremity of the mesethmoid cartilage, as in the Pig. 

 Myogale agrees with the Shrews in having no zygoma nor 

 postorbital process. 



In the Cape Golden Mole (Chrysochloris) the cranium is 

 conical, very broad and rounded behind, and pointed in 

 front. There are no postorbital processes. The zygoma is 

 complete, and tolerably strong. The tympanics ankylose 

 with the skull, and form a completely ossified bulla. 



In the Shrews (Soritidce} the cranium is broad behind and 

 tapering forwards. The facial portion is long and narrow. 

 The occiput slopes much forwards. There is no zygoma 

 and no postorbital process. The postglenoid process of the 

 squarnosal is remarkably large. The tympanic is ring-like, 



