CHAP. XVII.] 



MAMMALIA. 



191 



and Ostend. Species of Myogale also occur from the Miocene 

 downwards. 



FAMILY 22. SOKICIM}. (1 Genus, 11 Sub-genera, 65 Species.) 

 GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. 



The Shrews have a wide distribution, being found throughout 

 every region except the Australian and Neotropical ; although, as 

 a species is found in Timor and in some of the Moluccas, they 

 just enter this part of the former region, while one found in 

 Guatemala brings them into the latter. A number of species have 

 recently been described from India and the Malay Islands, so 

 that the Oriental region is now the richest in shrews, having 28 

 species ; the Nearctic comes next with 24 ; while the Ethiopian 

 has 11, and the Palsearctic 10 species. The sub-genera are 

 Crossopus, Amphisorex, Neosorex, Crocidura, Diplomesodon,Pinulia, 

 Pachyura, Blarina, Feroculus, An&dsbrex.^ 



Extinct Species. Several species of Sorex have been found 

 fossil in the Miocene of the South of France, as well as the 

 extinct genera Mysarachne and Plesiosorex ; and some existing 

 species have occurred in Bone Caves and Diluvial deposits. 2 



General Remarks on the Distribution of the Insectiwra. 



The most prominent features in the distribution of the Insecti- 

 vora are, their complete absence from South America and Aus- 

 tralia; the presence of Solenodon in two of the West Indian islands 

 while the five allied genera are found only in Madagascar ; and the 

 absence of hedgehogs from North America. If we consider that 

 there are only 13 v f known species of the order, 65 of which belong 

 to the one genus Sorex ; while the remaining 2 x 6 J genera contain 

 only 70 :; species, which have to be classed in 8 distinct families, 

 and present such divergent and highly specialized forms as Galeo- 

 pithecus, Erinaceus, Solenodon, and Condylura, it becomes evident 

 that we have here the detached fragments of a much more 



