24 FAUNA AMERICANA. 



and eventually settled on his bosom, preferring 

 captivity to freedom, with loss of progeny. 



Family INSECTIVORA. 



Char. Essent. Feet short, armed vrith robust 

 nails ; hind feet always five-toed, resting on the 

 anterior part of the sole; fore feet most generally 

 five-toed ; crowns of the molar teeth elevated into 

 sharp tubercles; canine teeth sometimes very 

 long, sometimes very short. 



Number of incisors variable. Body covered 

 with hair, or spines ; feeding on insects, roots, and 

 fruits. 



Inhabit the temperate climates of both conti- 

 nents. 



1st Division. Two long incisors before, follow- 

 ed by others, and by small canines shorter than 

 the molars. 



Genus. 



Sorex, Linn. Erxleb. Schreb. Cuv. Lacep. Illig. 

 Mtisaraneus, Brisson. 



CHARACTEBS. 



fincisor 2. 

 fsuperior 16 or 18.<i Canine 6 or 8. 



Dental formuIa.-Tecth 28 or 30,-j f^in"cilor 2. 



Liuferior 12. -l ..anine 0. 



LMolars 10. 



Superior intermediate incisors in form of a dou- 



