34 THE FOOD OF ANIMALS 



a Golden Mole and an ordinary mole is found in the structure 

 of the fore-limb, modified in both cases for digging. In the 

 former there are but three digits, all armed with powerful claws; 



Fig. 326. Golden Mole (Chrysochloris) 



while in the latter there are five digits, similarly provided, and the 

 general appearance is hand-like. 



The Shrews include the smallest, most typical, and most 

 widely distributed members of the order. They are exceedingly 

 active creatures, and the more typical species, such as the Garden- 

 Shrew (Crocidura aranea) (fig. 327), hunt chiefly on the ground, 

 though they are also able to climb. Burrowing Shrews (Anuro- 

 sorex) have been described from Central Asia and Assam, 

 resembling miniature moles in appearance, and probably with 

 similar habits. A number of Shrews are also more or less 

 modified for an aquatic life, and these exhibit a series of increas- 

 ing specializations. The Water -Shrew (Crossopus fodiens] of 

 Great Britain is a small-eared species which, though not web- 

 footed, is helped in swimming by stiff hairs which project from 

 the under-side of the tail and lower surfaces of the feet. The 

 Swimming-Shrews (Chimarrogale) of the Himalayas and Borneo 

 are distinguished by very similar characters. A large amount 



