50 BULLETIN NO. VII. 
uncanny about them, and figured to a greater or less extent in 
the witchcraft of the time. 
The moles are solitary, except during the breeding season, 
which is a period of unrest and ceaseless quarrels. 
The fact that the genera are restricted to the respective con- 
tinents where they are found, would seem to indicate that the 
fossorial habit is a preventive of ready distribution, and that 
the forms are endemic. South America is without moles, as 
well as other Insectivora. 
The geographical distribution may be gathered from the 
brief systematic outline given below.* 
In the moles the skull is flattened pyriform and shrew-like, 
but differs obviously in the possession of perfect zygomatic 
arches and enclosed bony tympanic bulla. There is no distinct 
post-glenoid process ; the cervical vertebree have no hypaph- 
ophyses; sternum with a strongly keeled manubrium ; scapula 
narrow, longer than whole arm; clavicle very short; humerus 
enormously enlarged; carpus with an os intermedium, and 
(usually) a sickle-shaped osseous support to hand. The hind 
limb is weak. 

*1, GENUS UROTRICHUS. 
Asingle Japanese and Asian species. U. talpoides, represents a genus having the 
general characters of the moles, except a slender terete snout and a slender 
bristled tail. The dentition is 2,9, 3, 4x2—36, This is thought to form a trans- 
ition toward Myogale. 
GENUS CONDYLURA. 
See above. Fitzinger in the face of the unanimous authority of recent American 
writers, recognizes four species on the basis of seasonal and sexual modification. 
3. GENUS SCALOPS. 
Also see above. A North American genus, with perhaps two closely allied species. 
outof which Fitzinger forms nine. Thecalm indifference with which a European 
author settles a question of specific validity upon the evidence of fragmentary, 
conflicting descriptioas by hasty European travelers, with the ppeenG help of 
mouldy, ill-stuffed skins of doubtful authenticity, in the face of American stu- 
dents, with large accumulations of material, would be amusing if not more. 
4. GENUS TALPA. 
Fitzinger recognizes seven species of this genus, whose type is the common mole 
of Europe. Talpa europea. 
Five named varieties of the common mole indicate how variable such a species 
may be, end affords a suggestive commentary on the numerous species of Scalops 
recognized. 
Talpa coca differs from T. europe@a simply in the size of the eye orifice, and is 
usually considered identical with it. Two species of this genus are accredited to 
America almost certainly erroneously, they are T. nigrofusca and T. reposta, A 
Japanese species, T. wogura, was secured by Temminck, and an East Indian, 
T. micrura, by Hodgson, while a very doubtful species, T leucura Blyth, was described 
by Blyth from farther India. It is probably simply T. micrura. 
GENUS CHRYSOCHLORIS. 
The golden moles of Africa differ from the above in having but four toes on the 
fore foot, and lacking the tail. 
Of this genus there seems to be three or more species; Fitzinger enumerates nine. 
ae es Are (or C capensis, as it is perhaps properly called) occurs at the cape of 
ood Hope. 
C. obtusirostris is from near Mosambique. : 
C. villosa from Port Natal, was first described by A. Smith in 1833, and specimens 
are in the British Museum. 
5, GENUS SCAPHANUS. 
This genus is closely related with Scalops, differing in dentition and the possess- 
ion or a Dalry tail. The single species, Scapanus breweri. is found in the eastern 
nited States. 
29 
or 

] 
ee 
~~ 

SS 
