CARNAllIA. 91 



M. Savi has found a Molc(l) in the Appennines that is per- 

 fectly blind, althoug-h otherwise similar to the common one ; 

 he calls it Talpa cxca. 



CONDYLURA^ IlHg. 



In the animals belonging to this genus, the two kinds of dentition 

 peculiar to the Insectivora seem to be combined. In the upper jaw 

 are two large triangular incisors, two extremely small and slender 

 ones, and on each side a strong canine, Iti the lower one are four 

 incisors slanting forwards, and a pointed but small canine. The 

 superior false molars are triangular and separated, the inferior 

 trenchant and denticulated. 



In their feet and the whole of their exterior they resemble the Mole, 

 but their tail is longer, and what more particularly serves to distin- 

 guish them from the former, is, that their nostrils are surrounded 

 with little movable cartilaginous points, which, when they separate, 

 radiate like a kind of star. 



One species particularly is found in North America Sorex 

 cristatus, L.(2) (The Radiated Mole.) Similar to the Mole of 

 Europe, the nose excepted, but having a tail more than double 

 the length of that of the latter. 



SCALOPS, CuV. 



Teeth very similar to those of the Desmans, except that the small 

 or false molars are less numerous; the muzzle is simply pointed, 

 like that of the Shrew; their hands are widened, armed with strong- 

 nails fitted to excavate the earth, and exactly similar to those of 

 Moles; in fact their mode of life is the same ; their eyes are equally as 

 small, and their ears quite as much hidden. The only species 

 known is the 



S. aquaticus; Sorex aquaticus, L. ; Schreb. CLVIII. It ap- 

 pears to inhabit a great part of North America, along rivers, 



(1) It is not perfectly blind ^ the eye-lids have an opening, though smaller than 

 in the common one. 



The existence of the optic nerve in the common Mole has been denied. I 

 think I can demonstrate it throughout its entire course. 



(2) This is the Condtlura of Uliger, but the characters he indicates, taken 

 from the figure of La Faille, copied Buff. Supp. VI, xxxvi, 1, and on which he 

 composed the name of the genus, are false. M. Desmarets was the first who cor- 

 rectly described the teeth of this animal. 



Dr Harlan describes a species, Cond. macroura, which has but very short points 

 about the nostrils, and a scaly compressed tail. He associates with it as a third 

 species, the Taljo. longkuudata, Fenn. Hist., No. 443, which he appears however 

 not to have seen. 



