814 VERTEBRATE ANIMALS. 



that the crowns of the molar teeth are furnished with small 

 pointed eminences or cusps, adapted for crushing insects. All 

 the toes have claws, there are usually five toes to each foot, 

 and most of the Insectivora are plantigrade, that is to say, 

 walk upon the soles of the feet. They are all small, and they 

 exist over the whole world, except in Australia and South 

 America, where their place is taken by Marsupials, such as the 

 Opossums. 



The Insectivora are divided into the three families of the 

 Moles (Talpidce), the Shrews (Soricidoe), and the Hedgehogs 

 (Erinaceidce). The Moles (Fig. 158) are distinguished by 



FIG. 158. Insectivora. Mole ( Talpa Europmd). 



having the body covered with hair, the feet short and formed 

 for digging, and the toes furnished with strong, curved claws. 

 There is no external ear, and the eyes are either extremely 

 small, or are completely concealed beneath the fur. They are 

 all nocturnal burrowing animals. The Star-nosed Moles ( Con- 

 dylurd) are American, but their habits are like those of the 

 European Mole (Talpa Europcea, Fig. 158). The Golden 

 Moles ( Chrysochloris) are African, and are remarkable for the 

 iridescence of their fur. The Shrews are very like the true 

 Mice in external appearance, but they are really widely dif- 

 ferent. The body is covered with hair, the feet are not adapted 

 for digging, and there are mostly external ears, while the eyes 

 are well developed. No division of the Insectivora is more 

 abundant or more widely distributed than the Soricidce, and 

 one of the Shrews is probably the smallest of existing Mam- 

 mals, not exceeding two and a half inches in length, counting 

 in the tail. Besides the true Shrews (Sorex), this family in- 

 cludes also the Elephant Shrews (Macroscelides) of Africa, 

 and the common Water-mole (Scalops aquaticus) of North 



