628 INSECT1V0RA 



Eocene of Europe have been referred to Sorex and the genus Amphi- 

 sorex, which is a synonym of Crossopus. 



Family Talpid.e. 



Allied to the Soricidce, but distinguished by the presence of a 

 zygomatic arch and auditory bulla in the skull, and by the form of 

 the teeth. The eyes are very small, and in some species covered 

 with skin ; the ears are short and concealed by the fur ; the fore 

 limbs are generally more or less modified for digging ; there is no 

 symphysis pubis ; the intestine has no csecum ; the tibia and fibula 

 are united ; and the unicuspidate first upper and lower incisors 

 are not extended horizontally forwards. 



This family is connected with the Soricidce by Urotriclms and 

 Uropsilus. All the members are limited to the temperate regions 

 of Europe, Asia, and North America ; and the majority of them 

 are of fossorial habits, although a few are aquatic or cursorial. The 

 family has been divided into two subfamilies by Professor Mivart, 

 and since this arrangement has been very generally adopted it will 

 be followed here. From the presence of intermediate forms like 

 ticaptonyx, Dr. Dobson, in the second part of his Monograph of the 

 Insectivora, has proposed a different arrangement, which, with the 

 omission of some forms which are of not more than subgeneric 

 value, is as follows : — 



MYOGAL.& — Myogale. 

 Condylur^e — Condylura. 

 c f Scapanus. 



SCALOPES < a , 



TALPiE — Talpa. 



TT f Scaptonyx. 



Urotrichi 1 TT \ . , 



( Urotriclms. 



Uropsili — Uropsilus. 



Subfamily Myogalinse. — Clavicles and humerus moderately 

 elongated ; manus without falciform bone. 



Myogale? — Dentition : i f , c \, p ■£•, m § ; total 44. Feet 

 webbed. Habits aquatic. This genus is represented by the two 

 species M. moschata (Fig. 289) and M. pyrenaica, of which the former 

 is by far the largest member of the family, its total length being 

 about 16 inches. Its long proboscis-like snout projects far beyond 

 the margin of the upper lip ; the toes are webbed as far as the bases 

 of the claws ; and the long scaly tail is laterally flattened, so as to 

 form a powerful instrument of propulsion when swimming. This 

 species inhabits the banks of streams and lakes in South-East Russia, 

 where its food consists of various aquatic insects. M. pyrenaica, 



1 Cuvier, "Tabl. de Classif. " in Lccons d' ' Anat. Compar. vol. i. (1800). 



