Vertebrata. 



FIG. 56. 



Malay Islands, Tarsius, has the tarsus or ankle-bones 

 of the foot exceedingly long, like the corresponding 

 bones in the frog, so that it appears to have two ankle 

 joints. 



68. Order 14, Insectivora. This order of mam- 

 mals consists of the shrews, moles, and hedgehogs, 

 which, as their name implies, feed on insects and 

 worms, and other small animals. They are all of 

 small size, and possess strong claws, long tapering 

 snouts, and numerous sharply pointed teeth, the 

 canines being small or absent. They all possess 

 complete collar bones, a character which distinguishes 



them from Carnivores, 

 and gives to the fore- 

 limbs a fixity and defi- 

 niteness of action that 

 would be otherwise 

 wanting. Their brains 

 are usually small and 

 smooth, not unlike 

 those of rodents. In 

 habit they are planti- 

 grade, terrestrial, and 

 usually active. The 

 moles are familiar in- 

 stances, and present in 

 the highest degree the 

 character of a fossorial or digging animal ; the paddle- 

 like hand the square arm-bone or humerus (fig. 56, 

 53), and the enormous muscularity of the fore-limb 

 enable it to dig with wonderful celerity in pursuit of 

 the worms and insects on which it feeds, while the 



Bones of fore-limb of mole. 



52, scapula ; 53, humerus ; 54, 55, 

 fore-arm bones. 



