276 Dr. Godman’s Note on the genus Condylura of Illiger. - 
the cristata*. ‘The only evidence of the existence of a longi- 
caudata is that given by Pennant, who describes it without 
reference to the nasal rays. It is on this indication that 
Gmelin, Lliger, and Desmarest have allowed of the species, 
the latter author with very strong doubts, which Ranzani re- 
peats. From Pennant’s figure I feel convinced that his Jon- 
gicaudata was a stuffed and dried specimen of the Condylura 
cristata, having the nasal radii shrunk and distorted. A spe- 
cimen in this condition I have now in my possession, and it 
might readily be taken for the longicaudata, figured by Pen- 
nant. 
The Condylura cristata is subject at certain seasons to a 
very, remarkable enlargement of the tail, varying from the 
smallest or most ordinary size to the thickness of the little 
finger. This circumstance was long since made known to 
many of his friends by Mr. Titian Peale, who found one of 
the largest size: since then I have found one, and examined 
several others, and both Messrs. Say and Bonaparte confirm 
this observation by other examinations: all the specimens yet 
examined having the tail thus enlarged, were males ; and it is 
most probable that the enlargement occurs only during the 
rutting season. Messrs. Say and Peale both suggested to me 
a long time since, that the differences heretofore serving for 
the establishment of the longicaudata as a distinct species, 
were merely sexual. In all other respects the species of Con- 
dylura found are invariable in their external characters, if we 
except a single.specimen obtained by my friend, Titian Peale, 
which may prove to be a new species, should he find other 
specimens with the same character, for which purpose he 
defers his observations. It is certainly an extremely desirable 
circumstance that we should rid the American Fauna of a 
great number of merely nominal species, which never had 
existence unless in the imagination of their authors: to this 
end the labours of American naturalists should be directed, 
as it is a great advance towards true knowledge to disencum- 
ber ourselves of error. 
It is well known that the appearance from which TIlliger 
named the genus, was an extravagant exaggeration of Dela- 
faille, who represented it in his plate as having numerous 
knots or strangulations on the tail. Desmarest’s figure is also 
incorrect in relation to the tail; he having figured it from a 
* A late number of the United States Literary Gazette contained an 
annunciation of a newly discovered species of this genus, by Dr. Harris, of 
Milton. From a description given by this gentleman in a letter to a distin- 
guished naturalist of Philadelphia, we are satisfied that the supposed new 
animal is the well known Condylura cristata. 
dried 
