THE ANNALS 



AND 



MAGAZINE OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



[THIRD SERIES.] 

 No. 114. JUNE 1867. 



LV. — On the Dentition of the Common Mole (Talpa europsea). 



By C. Spence Bate, F.R.S. &c.* 



[Plate XL] 



Among the families of the Mammalia none is found in which 



there is a greater variation in the dental arrangement than in 



that of the Talpidse. 



The number of the teeth is also larger than in any of the 

 Mammalia except the Marsupials; they are only deficient by one 

 on each side of each jaw of the full number of the Mammalian 

 type. 



The development of the teeth in the European species has 

 been so little understood that the greatest diversity of opinions 

 as to their homological distinction exists amongst zoologists. 

 Thus we find, in Prof. Owen's ' Odontography,' four different 

 formulas are given, being the result of as many different anato- 

 mists' observations, which may be expressed as follows : — 



That of Fred. Cuvier as 



In. ^, C.J, P.M. I, M. I X 2 = 44; 

 Bell as 



In.^, C.}, U.\ X 2 = 44; 

 De Blainville as 



In.i, C.l, P.M. 2, M.|x2 = 44; 

 Owen as 



In. I, C.J, P.M.^, M.|x2 = 44; 



whilst Prof. Blasius gives, in his ' Fauna der Wirbelthiere 

 Deutschl.,' that which may be expressed by 



In. I, C.{, P.M. I, M.^ X 2=44. 



* Abstract of a paper read at the Odontolof^ical Society of Great Britain, 

 April 1, 1867. Communicated by the Author. 



Ann. i^ Mag. N. Hist, Ser.3. Vol\\\. 28 



