148 



SORICID.^— NEOMYS 



Apart from its colour, size, and the important cranial and 

 dental characters, the greater size of the hind foot, measuring 

 i6 to i8 as against 12 to 14 mm. in the Common Shrew, is 

 probably the best absolute criterion of this species. 



[Remains of a Desman from the late pliocene Forest-bed of Norfolk 

 were first described by Owen, in 1846, under the name of Pataospalax 

 niagmis. Of late years they have been referred to the living " Myogale " 

 = Desmana moschata of the Volga. If, as is quite probable, the fossils 

 really belong to an extinct species, Owen's specific name, at all events, 

 will have to be used.] 



Q') 



Fig. 27. — Skull of Talpa europcsa .• — {a) from above ; (J)) from the side ; 

 (c) from beneath. (Drawn by G. Dollman.) 



Fig. 28. — Skull of Epimys raitus, to show " rodent teeth " (life size). 



