548 SORICIDJE. SORICIN^S. 



are not especially differentiated, so that it is difficult to tell one 

 from the other. The molars have numerous sharp cusps arranged 

 in a V or W-shaped pattern, and the crowns may be either quad- 

 rangular or triangular. The incisors are always four in the mandible 

 and the innermost pair is often larger than the canines. The toes 

 are furnished with claws, and are usually five on each foot, with the 

 thumb and great toe not opposable to the other digits. The greater 

 portion of the sole of the foot is placed upon the ground, and they 

 never walk upon the toes. The upper surface of the brain is smooth, 

 and the testes are situated near the kidneys and are not placed in a 

 scrotum. Only three families of the Order come within the scope 

 of this work, the SORICID^E or Shrews, TALPID^E or Moles, and the 

 SOLENODONTID.E or Solenodons, of which last but two species are 

 known, the curious Almiqui of Cuba, and the Agouta of Haiti. 



The largest family of the Insectivora is the SORICID,E, which 

 comprises over half the known species. The body is hairy, the nose 

 is long and overhangs the mouth, and the animals are very mouse- 

 like in appearance, while some of the species are among the smallest 

 of the Mammalia. Shrews are very widely distributed in both 

 Hemispheres, and possess a very uniform structure. These little 

 animals live chiefly in the forests, and are also found in marshy 

 places, sometimes in cultivated fields. They do not confine themselves 

 by any means to an insectivorous diet, but devour worms, small 

 birds, or any scraps of meat that fall in their way. Their own bodies 

 are rejected as food by other quadrupeds, the secretions from their 

 glands making them too offensive. American Shrews have been 

 divided into several genera, two of which, NEOSOREX and ATOPHYRAX, 

 contain species that are aquatic in their habits. 



Fam. I. Soricidse. Shrews. 



Skull: long, narrow; no zygomatic arches, nor postorbital pro- 

 cesses; tympanic not forming a bulla. Upper molar cusps with pat- 

 tern like a W ; first upper incisor large and hook-like with basal cusp 

 on posterior border; no caecum; pubic arch closed; tibia and fibula 

 united. Nose long, overhanging the mouth. 



Subfam. I. Soricinse. 



Summits of teeth colored red. 



Sorex is the largest genus of the family, and is very numerously 

 represented in North America, the species ranging from northern 

 Alaska and Hudson Bay south into Mexico. Many of the named 

 forms have a very close resemblance to each other, and probably too 



