122 VERTEBRATA: MAMMALIA. 



they live upon other animals, and in this respect they are 

 like the Carnivora already described. But while they are 

 analogous to that group, they differ from true carnivo- 

 rous mammals in many important respects. They are not 

 true flesh-eaters, but feed, as above stated, upon the smaller 

 and weaker forms of animal life. 



The Insectivora are the animals known as the Galeopi- 

 thicus, Shrews, Moles, Hedgehogs, etc., most of which are 

 exceedingly small, and the largest of which are not so 

 large as the domestic cat ; the Hedgehogs (Fig. 135), being 

 the largest animals of the whole order. 



The teeth of the Insectivora are of three kinds, incisors, 

 canines, and molars ; and the latter are studded with acute 

 points. 



FIG. 136. FIG. 137. 



Star-nosed Mole, end of Muzzle. Skull and Teeth of an Insectivorous Animal 



Star-nosed Mole, Condylura cristata, Illiger. 



The Insectivorous bat-like mammal known as the Ga- 

 leopithicus (Fig. 130), of the Indian Archipelago, repre- 

 sents a group called the DERMOPTERA, a name from the 

 Greek derma, skin, and pteron, a wing. This curious 

 animal is about the size of a cat, and lives upon trees. 



The Moles or Talpidge (Figs. 131, 136, 137), have the 

 body stout, and the feet greatly expanded and fitted for 

 digging in the ground. Their eyes are extremely minute 

 and fur very thick and soft. 



The Golden-green Moles or Chrysochlorididte, of Africa, 

 furnish us with the only example of a mammal with splen- 

 did metallic tints like those which adorn so many kinds of 

 birds, fishes, and insects. 



The Hedgehogs or Erinaceidse (Fig. 135), have a short 



