462 ORDERS OF MAMMALIA. 



sectivorous Bats ( Vespertilid) have been discovered in Miocene, 

 Pliocene, and Post-Tertiary deposits. The Horse-shoe Bats 

 (Rhinolophus) have as yet only been discovered in cave- 

 deposits. Lastly, the Vampire Bats are represented by no 

 less than five species in the Post-Pliocene cave-deposits of 

 Brazil, in which country is found the living Phyllostoma 

 spectrum. 



Fig. 374. Vespertilio Parisiensis. Upper Eocene. 



ORDER XII. INSECTIVORA. The twelfth order of Mammals 

 is that of the Insectivora, comprising a number of small Mam- 

 mals which are very similar to the Rodents in many respects, 

 but want the peculiar incisors of that order, and are likewise 

 always furnished with clavicles. 



In the Insectivora, all the three kinds of teeth are usually 

 present, but the exact nature of the dentition varies consider- 

 ably in different cases. The incisors and canines present 

 little special, but the molars are always serrated with nume- 

 rous, small, pointed eminences or cusps, adapted for crushing 

 insects. With one exception, clavicles are always present in a 

 complete form. All the feet are usually furnished with five 

 toes ; all the toes are furnished with claws ; and the animal 

 walks on the soles of the feet, or is plantigrade. 



The earliest traces of Insectivorous Mammals are in the 

 Eocene Tertiary (the Spalacodon of the Upper Eocene of 

 Hordwell, discovered by Mr Flower). The order, however, 



