MOLES AND SHREWS 



(Insectivora) 



THE animals of this order are distributed in all parts of the 

 world except Australia. The only representatives in North America 

 are the shrews and moles, and, indeed, these two groups make 

 up the bulk of the order throughout its range. 



Nearly all the insectivores are terrestrial, the moles burrowing 

 in the ground, the shrews living in burrows and also on the surface. 

 They are mainly insectivorous as their name implies, though some 

 species vary their diet. 



Our American species are all of small size and are clothed 

 with very soft, silky fur. The eyes are small and rudimentary, 

 while the teeth bear considerable resemblance to those of the 

 Carnivora. 



Our two families may be distinguished as follows: 



I. Shrews. Family Soricidce. Fore feet similar to the hind 

 ones and not modified for digging. Appearance mouse- 

 like, but with a much more slender-pointed snout. 

 Scarcely a trace of an external ear. 



II. Moles. Family Talpidce. Fore feet very broad and turned 

 on edge, specially adapted for digging. No external ear 

 whatever. 



SHREWS 



(Family So rid dee) 



Our shrews are all of small size, some of them being the 

 most minute mammals known. They have the same soft fur 

 as the moles, but both eyes and external ears are better developed 

 though still inconspicuous, as we should expect, from their living 

 more or less in subterranean runways. 



They form three well marked groups: the short-tailed shrew:-, 

 long-tailed shrews and the marsh shrews. 



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