4o6 Field Museum of Natural History — Zoology, Vol. XL 



a hundred species and subspecies; while a third family (Solenodontidce) 

 occurs in the West Indies. Eleven species and subspecies belonging 

 to 5 genera, including representatives of both of our continental families, 

 are found within our limits. 



Suborder INSECTIVORA VERA. 



KEY TO THE FAMILIES 

 REPRESEx\TATIVES OF WHICH OCCUR WITHIN OUR LIMITS. 



A. Length from nose to root of tail more than 4 inches; fore feet modified for digging, 



very large and strikingly different from hind feet; no external ear; ends of 

 teeth not red; zygomata present. Family TALPID.^. Moles, p. 433. 



B. Length from nose to root of tail less than 4 inches; fore feet not noticeably large; 



external ear present, although small and often concealed by fur; ends of teeth 

 red; zygomata absent. Family SORICIDjE. Shrews, p. 406. 



Family SORICID^. Shrews. 



Members of this family are distributed throughout the northern 

 hemisphere, except in high latitudes. They are small, terrestrial 



mammals (rarely aquatic), somewhat resem- 

 bling a Mouse, but having a long pointed 

 snout; the upper lip projects considerably 

 beyond the lower; very small eyes and very 

 small external ears which are often con- 

 cealed by fur. Their bodies are covered 

 with thick, soft fur. The tibia and fibula 

 Skull of a Shrew (.Sorej;). ^rc uuitcd ; zygomata are absent and the 



(Enlarged.) J J a 



tympanic bone is shaped like a ring and 

 does not form a bulla. The milk teeth are functionless and absorbed 

 without appearing above the gum. The cusps on the upper molars 

 may be described as resembling the letter W. There is no caecum. 

 Their food consists principally of insects and worms, and it is claimed 

 that some species occasionally eat nuts. They are distinctly pugna- 

 cious and when opportunity occurs will attack, kill and eat small mam- 

 mals, such as Mice. 



In writing of Old World Shrews, Edward Topsell says:* "It is a 



* Historie of Foure Footed Beastes, London, 1607, p. 536. 



