MOLES — BATS — OPOSSUMS 345 



„ 1 The American moles are all generically distinct from the typical 



European representative of the group, and, except in one case, do not 

 belong to Old World genera. The common North American mole (Scalops 

 aquaticus) is distinguished from its relatives in the United States by the presence 

 of a web between the toes of the hind -feet, as well as by its dentition. On account 

 of these webbed feet, it was formerly regarded as an aquatic animal, but it really 

 swims only in case of need, and instead of living near water, frequents dry places. 

 Like the European mole, it spends its life below ground, where it finds its food, 

 chiefly consisting of earth-worms, insects, and grubs. 



Another well-marked type, the hairy-tailed mole (Scapanus townsendi), 

 resembles the common mole in external appearance, but has forty-four teeth like 

 the star-nosed mole. Several allied species are known in North America ; but 

 Scalops breweri is now separated generically by American naturalists as Para- 

 scalops. The curious star-nosed mole (Condylura cristata) derives its name from 

 the presence of appendages arranged in the shape of a star round the nostrils ; 

 while it is also distinguished from other moles by the length of its tail. This mole, 

 which is only 5 inches long, exclusive of the tail, lives entirely on worms and 

 insects, and resembles in habits the other American moles, but does not apparently 

 dig such long passages, although it throws up larger hills. A very noteworthy type 

 is Gibbs's shrew-mole (Neiirotrichus gibbsi), belonging to a group represented 

 elsewhere only by a single Japanese species. Some writers, however, regard 

 the American species as referable to the same genus (Urotrichus) as the 

 Japanese species. 



The bats of North America are for the most part allied to species 

 inhabiting Europe and northern Asia. The European long-eared bat, 

 for instance, is replaced in the States by the closely allied Plecotus (or Coryno- 

 rhinus) macrotis, distinguished by the presence on the forehead of a thick ridge 

 ending in a club-shaped enlargement between the eye and the nostril. The 

 Californian cave-bat (Antrozous pallidus), although referred to a distinct genus, is 

 allied to the European barbastelle, from which it differs by the separation of the 

 bases of the ears. The spotted bat {Euderma maculata) is another peculiar North 

 American generic type. There are several representatives of the European genus 

 Myotis; and in the pipistrelle group the silver-haired bat (Lasionycteris 

 noctivagans) is notable on account of its high northern range, while the typical 

 pipistrelles (Pipistrellus) have two representatives. The genus Vespertilio is 

 represented by the large brown bat (V. fuscus), which used to be regarded as 

 nothing more than a local race of the European serotine ; but a very distinct type 

 is presented by the New York bat (Lasiurus borealis). Many other representa- 

 tives of the typical bats ( Vespertilionidos) occur in the States ; in addition to 

 which there are a few representatives of the vampire-family (Phyllostomatidce) 

 whose true home is Central and South America. Horseshoe-bats (Rhinolophidos) 

 are, however, entirely absent. 



America is the only continent except Australia in which there 

 Opossums. 



are marsupials, but the American species are few and included in 

 two families. Although the very distinct Australian phalangers have locally 

 usurped their name, opossums (which, it need scarcely be said, are marsupials) are 



