CARNIVOROUS MAMMALS. 47 



teeth in the upper jaw, and sixteen in the lower jaw. They live 

 in the woods and keep themselves concealed during the d.-jy 

 amongst the roots of old trees. They are frequently met with in 

 France, and in various parts of the world, ll is said they mouse 

 like a cat. 



23. Shrews Sorex (Plate 2, fig 9.) are very small animals 

 whose appearance reminds us of the mouse ; their body is covered 

 with hairs, and on each flank there is found a small strip of stiff' 

 bristles between which there exudes an odorous humor. They 

 have eighteen teeth in the upper, and twelve in the lower jaw. 

 They keep themselves in holes which they excavate in the earth, 

 and feed on worms and insects. The common Shrew, (sorex 

 araneus) has been accused, but very wrongfully, of causing a 

 disease in horses and mules by its bite. Shrews are found in 

 Asia, the north of Europe, &c. 



24. The MOLES, Tal pa, (Plate 2, fiy. 10.) are essentially 

 subterraneous, and burrowing animals ; their body is squat, 

 their muzzle elongated and terminated by a moveable snout, 

 serving to penetrate the earth, and their anterior extremities, 

 very short, but extremely strong and thick, are directed out- 

 wardly, and terminate by enormous nails, suitable for digging. 

 (Plate 2, %. 11 ) By the assistance of these organs, moles dig 

 with great rapidity and admirable skill, long galleries in the 

 soil in the midst of which they establish their abode. The small 

 elevations we often see upon the surface of the soil, called 

 mole /M//.V, are formed by the riddance which these animals throw 

 out when executing their subterranean labors. They very rarely 

 leave their labyrinths, and feed on the worms and larvae of in- 

 sects found there. They are destined, as we have seen, to live 

 in total darkness; hence, their eyes are scarcely perceptible, and 

 there is one species of mole which is entirely blind. They have 

 twenty-two teeth in each jaw. The common mole of the fields of 

 France, which is of a beautiful black, is found in all the fertile 

 countries of Europe. It is said, they do not exist in Ireland, and 

 are rarely met with in Greece. There are varieties of moles 

 which are brown, white, ash-colored and spotted. 



23. What are Shrews ? What is the numher and disposition of their teeth? 

 What are their h.tbits ? In what purls of the world are they found ? What 

 is their food ? 



24 V\ hat are Moles? What are the peculiarities of their organization? 

 What are tht ir habits ? Have moles very large eyes ? Is there any specie* 

 of Mole that is blind ? What is the number and arrangement of their teeth? 

 In what countries ure tin y found? 



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