PALASOSPALAX MAGNUS. 25 
Nat. size. 
PALAXOSPALAX MAGNUS. 
At Ostend, near Bacton, on the coast of Norfolk, there 
is a lacustrine deposit of dark clay and greenish sand, 
with the ruins of an ancient forest, indicated by over- 
thrown charred trunks, compressed branches, and leaves 
of trees; this forms a very rich mine of organic re- 
mains. The stupendous Mammoth, two or three species 
of Deer, and the graceful Roebuck, have left, in their 
abundant and well-preserved bones and teeth, the evi- 
dences of the extinct population of that forest. Its 
streams were tenanted by gigantic Beavers, and were 
also frequented by a water-mole, which as much surpassed 
any known existing species in size, as the Trogontherium 
did the Castor of Canada or continental Europe. This 
extinct Insectivore, for which I propose the name of 
Paleospalaz,* is clearly referable to the Talpide, or Mole 
tribe, by the most important part of its dental system, 
but was as large as a Hedgehog.+ 
This interesting addition to the extinct British Jnsecti- 
word, Which is the only example of a form in that order, 
* Greek, palazos, ancient, spalaw, mole. 
+ It is probably referred to by Mr. Green, in his ‘ Geology of Bacton,’ 8vo., 
1842, p. 12, “ Rodentia,—bones, jaws, and teeth, of four species, probably arvi- 
cola, shrew, hedgehog, and mole.” At least, I have seen no true remains of 
the Hedgehog in the collections of Bacton fossils in the British Museum, or in 
that of Norwich. 
