16 



IXSECTIVOKA 



Ding)tosis. — Like Talpa cseca but skull rathtn- I'obust, the 

 breadth of rostrum over roots of canines usually more than 

 4 mm. ; anteorbital foramen contracted, its posterior border ovei' 

 mesostyle of vi'^, the plate forming outer wall of canal usually as 

 wide as transverse diameter of foramen ; crowns of molars 

 appreciably enlarged (length of upper tooth-row, exclusive of 

 incisors, frequently more than 13 mm.), but dentition otherwise 

 as in Tnlpa csern. 



Skull. — The skull is somewhat larger and more robust than 

 that of Talpa cseca, a character particularly noticeable in the 

 greater width of rostrum and palate. In details of structure, 

 however, it shows no striking peculiari- 

 ties except in the form and position of 

 the anteorbital foramen. This foramen 

 i.s noticeably smaller than in Talpa 

 cseca, and its posterior boi'der lies over 

 middle or front of second molar instead 

 of over front of third. The plate form- 

 ing outer wall of canal is wider and less 

 thread-like than in TaJpa cseca. Zygoma 

 about as long as in Talpa cseca, but 

 owing to the diflerent position of pos- 

 tei'ior border of anteorbital foramen, the 

 distance from this poiiat to posterior 

 edge of temporal fossa equals that from foramen to canine, or 

 even in one exceptional instance, to outer incisor. 



Teeth. — The upper molars are distinctly larger than those of 

 Talpa cseca, but otherwise the teeth show no peculiarities. 



Measurements. — Type (from Cabrera) : head and body, 102 ; 

 tail, 24; hind foot, 15 "5. Average and extremes of five 

 specimens from La Granja, Segovia, Spain (in spirit, body 

 contracted): head and body, 101*6 (98-107); tail, 25-6 

 (25-27); hind foot, 16-4 (16-17). Adult male from Galicia : 

 head and body, 112; tail, 26; hind foot, 15 •4. Two males 

 from Cintra, Portugal : head and body, 118 and 120; tail, 26 

 and 26 ; hind foot, 16 and 17. For cranial measurements see 

 Table, p. 17. 



Specimens examined. — Teu, from the following localities : — 

 Spain : Galicia, 1 ; La Granja, Segovia, 5. 

 Poetugal: Cintra, 4. 



Talpa caeca (upper figure), and 

 T. occidentalis (lower tigure). 

 Nat. sizj. 



