on the Genus Scalops. 29 



outer side, and one of their faces on the internal surface ; the 

 two first are of the same size ; the last somewhat smaller.* 



In the young animals, which I conjectured to be under a 

 year old, I have found the two small thread-like teeth that 

 are placed behind the incisors, in the upper jaw, entirely 

 wanting, as also the fourth lateral incisor on each side, leav- 

 ing vacant spaces between them and presenting the appearance 

 ascribed to them by Cuvier and Desmarest. The latter teeth 

 are first supplied, and finally, as the animal becomes fully 

 matured, the two first also make their appearance, when all 

 the edentate spaces between the molars and grinders are filled 

 up. 



The description, not only of the teeth, but of the form and 

 habits of this quadruped, are so correctly given by Godman, 

 in his excellent article on the Shrew-mole, (Vol. I. p. 81,) 

 that in the present state of our knowledge little remains to be 

 added. My descriptions, from specimens now before me, of 

 an animal common in every part of the United States, are 

 only given in this place to enable the student of nature con- 

 veniently to compare it with other species which will be 

 noticed in this article. 



Form. The common Shrew-mole has a thick, cylindrical 

 body, and the head, at the first sight, seems attached to the 

 shoulders without an intermediate neck. The snout is naked, 

 cartilaginous, and very flexible, extended five lines beyond 

 the incisors. The under surface projects a little beyond the 

 nostrils, which are oblong, and open on the upper surface 

 near each other. The mouth is large, and when open, re- 

 sembles in miniature, that of the hog. The eyes are a mere 

 speck, concealed by the fur, and, to appearance, covered with 

 an integument. There is no external ear, but a small, circu- 

 lar aperture exists, about three-fourths of an inch behind the 

 eye. 



The whole of the fore-arm is concealed by the skin, and 

 its broad palms only are visible. The palms are large and 

 naked, not unlike these of the human hand, bordered with 

 stiff hair. The nails are large, nearly convex above, and 



* Godman. 



