40 BULLETIN NO. VII. 
upon the larger continents the differentiation has been less one- 
sided. Paleontology also shows that the various families of 
Insectivora early became distinct. 
The families are at present, therefore, remarkably compact 
and sharply defined. Some of the largest species are found in 
the Indian family Tupaiide. These animals resemble squirrels 
in outward form and size and climb well, searching for insects 
in their leafy retreats. The snout is long and shrew like, but 
the eyes are more highly developed than in most Insectivora. 
The Macroscelide (see fig. 2) are deceptively like the kanga- 
roo mice. These jumping shrews inhabit sandy and rocky 
wastes of Africa, and not only root among the rocks for larvee 
but even spring after flying sorts with great accuracy. 
The Myogalide are aquatic Insectivora. The various species 
live in the rivers of eastern Europe, of Asia and parts of 
Africa. Leeches, fresh water mollusks, and larve as well as 
possibly the fry of fishes, serve Myogale for food. Anal 
glands give to these animals a most offensive odor. 
The Soricide (shrews) include mouse-like species which may 
be considered as the type of the Insectivora. Their geographi- 
cal distribution is most extensive among the families of this 
group and together with the moles (Zalpide) form the only 
families found in North America. 
Madagascar furnishes a family of Insectivora somewhat like 
the hedge-hogs but uniting with this habitus characters of the 
shrews and jumping shrews. Centetide, as the family is called, 
contains two genera of similar character. The true hedge- 
hogs (Erinaceide) occupy parts of the old world. It is very 
common to hear our rodent porcupines called hedge-hogs. 
The two animals have nothing in common but the spiny 
armature. The hedge-hog is very useful to the European 
farmer on account of the constant war he wages with rats and 
mice, which, in spite of seeming awkwardness he skillfully 
captures. Birds’ nests and fruit trees form a secondary re- 
course. They may be easily domesticated to a certain extent 
and yet could hardly be considered desirable pets. 
The subterranean Insectivora fall into two related families, 
the one represented by the blind mole (Chrysochloris) of South 
Africa, the other by our familiar moles. The Talpide of Am- 
erica belong to different genera from the European but are 
nevertheless very familiar. 
The present state of our knowledge of the Insectivora is 
very low, for the attempts to distinguish species upon variable 
