J DIG.] (kiidic Relation.^ of Moles and Shrcicfi: Sununary. l!G5 



whole are to be regarded as an order. AYhcther the Lipotyphla should he 

 so regarded depends upon the question (p. 285) whctlier the Tupaioidea, and 

 ]Macrose(didoidea have been deri\ed from forms which might eome within 

 the definition of the Li])oty})hla. 



Soricoidea. "^rhe 'J^aljjidffi seem to be linked ancestrally with the Soriei- 

 d;v through the primitive genera Mi/ogale, Urotriclius and Uropsilu.s the 

 first of Avhich approaches the typical Tal|)ida_^, while the last is Shrew-like 

 in almost everything except its dentition. 



Remote affinity of the Soricoidea with the Erinaceoidea is revealed in 

 the characters of the larynx, lungs, vascular system, liver and especi;Uly 

 in the urinary and generative organs (Dobson, pp. 157-159). '^llie condition 

 of the tympanic region in the Soricidfe is more primitive than in the Erina- 

 ceidcie, since the tym])anic bone remains ring-shaped and neither the basi- 

 nor the alisphenoid send down tympanic processes. The arrangement of 

 the three branches of the entocarotid conforms in general to the primitive 

 Lipotyphlous j)lan (van Kamj)en, 1905, }). 485). The so called intercentra, 

 which are doubtfully to be homologized with the intercentra of re])tiles, 

 (Weber, 1904, ]>. 86) are found below the lumbar vertebrae in Talpa and in a 

 reduced condition in Erinaccus, and are also well marked in Myogalc (Dob- 

 son, p. 147). 



Affinities between the Soricoidea and the Centetoidea are suggested by 

 Leche (1907, p. 121), who cites in this connection: the general form of the 

 skull (rf. Sorex and Microgale), the strong postglenoid process, the loss of 

 the malar in the Soricidie, the form of the hinder part of the palate, the 

 presence of a cloaca (in many Soricidre), and the occurrence of an accessory 

 erectile gland in the penis. According to Leche's suggestion the molars in 

 Talpidse and Soricida? may be similar in their mode of formation to those in 

 the Centetidpe, that is, the internal depressed ledge is possibly a "pseudo- 

 protocone" (p. 238). In Proscahps Matthew (1909, pi. li) the basal cingu- 

 lum pseudoprotocone is doubtfully distinct from the true protocone (Fig. 17, 

 no. 9). In Myogale the pseudoprotocone has increased in size and is barely 

 distinct from the protocone. In typical Soricida? and Talpidfe the two cusps 

 are no longer distinguishable. Leche says also that Microgale w\i\\ respect 

 to its antemolar dentition furnishes a morphological stage in the evolution 

 of the peculiar antemolar dentition of the Soricidoe. 



Additional evidence of affinities with both the Erinaceoidea and the 

 Centetoidea is furnished by the numerous resemblances in the arrangement 

 of the foramina: e. g., in Sorex the "sinus canal" on the side of the skull is 

 very prominent (Parker, 1885-0, pi. 31), the foramen rotundum is con- 

 fluent with the foramen lacerum anterius; the entocarotid foramina are 

 described above, one branch perforating the basisphenoid as in Marsupials, 



