THE OTHER BEASTS 



363 



cesses of skin radiate from the extremity of the muzzle. 

 The general form of a star-mole is like the true mole, 

 but its tail is longer and its hand less powerful. It makes 

 tunnels in the ground like the mole of Europe. Three 

 other species in the United States have the hind feet 

 webbed. They form the genus Scalops. 



Two curious aquatic more or less mole-like creatures, 

 but with long scaly tails, webbed feet, and long proboscis- 

 like snouts, are known as desmans. The larger species, 

 sixteen inches long, inhabits the lakes and streams of 

 Southern Russia. In ancient times it was found in 



FIG. 97. 



THE GYMNURA. 



England. The other much smaller species is found in 

 the region of the Pyrenees. Two allied terrestrial forms, 

 burrowing and without webbed feet, come one from 

 Japan, the other from North America. 



The shrews are a very numerous group of long- 

 muzzled, pointed-nosed, in external appearance mouse- 

 like creatures, which include amongst them the absolutely 

 smallest of all beasts. Some or other species are found 

 almost all over the world, except Australia. 



The hedgehogs, animals so familiar in Europe, are 

 animals clothed with sharp spines, which stand out 

 defensively on every side, when the creature rolls itself 



