230 MAMMALS. 



although by others it is referred to the Ruminants. It was the lower jaw of a small so-called 

 insectivorous animal, Spalacotherium tricuspidens, found in the Purbeck beds, whicli has proved 

 the existence of Mammalia about midwaj- between the older oolitic and the older tertiary periods. 

 Professor Owen* says that the particular modification of the pointed cusf)s, as to number, propor- 

 tion, and relative position, resembles in some degree the Caj)c Mole — Chrysochlora aurea ; but' 

 both in these respects and in the number of Molars, accords more closely with that of the pre- 

 viously existing Amphitiieritjm, which had been referred to the insectivorous Marsupials. The 

 insectivorous natiu'e of these species receives a certain amount of confirmation from the fact, that in 

 the beds where they have been found, especially in the Purbeck beds, plentiful indications of 

 insect life are also met with. In the tertiary beds numerous remains of Insectivora occur, which 

 have received the generic names of Dimylus, Geotrypus, Hyporysius, Pal.wjspalax, &c. 



Dr. Wagner f includes the Galeopithecus amongst the Insectivora, an arrangement which 

 seems unsound for reasons already mentioned. In other respects, his arrangement of them is very 

 natural, viz., into Cladobates, or Squirrel-like species ; Shrews ; Moles ; and Hedgehogs. Ano- 

 ther arrangement, including both fossil and living species, had been previously proj)osed by M. 

 Pomel, in an article on the distribution of the order. J And more recently. Professor Peters, of 

 Berlin, has projjosed another, adopting some of Wagner's suggestions, more especially the reception 

 of Galeopithecus into the order.§ 



The zoologist may like to compare these different systems of classification. I have therefore 

 contrasted them in a tabic in the Appendix. The arrangement which seems to me best is, 1. Moles ; 

 2. Shrews, including Macroscelidcs ; 3. Tupaias ; 4. Hedgehogs. 



Moles. — (Majj 63.) The Moles are distributed over the whole Northern hemisphere. A genus 

 of them is also found in South Africa, but none have been met with in the intertropical parts 

 of the World, nor in South America nor Australia. 



There are three types of form which are peculiar, respectively, one (Talpa) to Euroj^c and 

 Asia ; another (Scalops) to North America ; and the third (Chrysochloris) to South Africa,— all 

 very limited in number of species. 



The European Mole extends eastwards in the temperate latitudes from Ireland (where it has 

 erroneously been said not to exist) through Europe and Asia, until it passes the Altai Mountains. It 

 is there replaced by another species (T. Wogara) first described by Temminck, from Japanese 

 specimens, but since found by Raddo to extend as far westwards as Irkutsk. A new genus (Urotri- 

 CHUs) has been found in Japan, and no doubt will also be met with on the mainland. The most 

 interesting fact regarding it is, that another species of the same genus has lately been found in 

 California. Mr. Lord says he can perceive no difference between the Japanese and Californian 

 species ; || biit Dr. Baird, who describes the latter, seems to have entertained no doubt that they 

 were distinct, and, moreover, mentions that the eye and ear cannot be perceived, whereas in the 

 Japanese species they are only said to be very minutc^f 



* Owen, " Paloeontology," p. 317. § Peters, uuber die Saugethiere-gattung Solenodon ia 



t Wagner, in Schrrber's " Saugethiere," Supplement, " Abhand. Ak. Wisscu," 1863. 



Vol. V. II Lord, in "Proc. Zool. Soc," lS(i4, p. ICl, 



X "Bulletin de la Societe Geol. de France," Second IT Baird, op. cit. viii., 7U. 



Series, VI., Nov., 1848-56. 



