55 



INSECTIVORA. 



Genus TALPA, Linnaeus. 



TALPA EUROP^A, LINNMUS. 



(Mole.) 



(Yert. Forest Bed, p. 95, PLATE XV., FIGS. 1-4.) 



The remains of the Mole have long been known to occur in 

 the Forest-bed, but it has not been recorded from any other 

 Pliocene formation in Britain. The species occurs in Caves (Owen, 

 Brit.Foss. Mamm., p. 19, 1846), but it is a little doubtful whether 

 it is of Pleistocene age ; it is now living in the northern and 

 temperate parts of Europe, although apparently absent from 

 Ireland and the north of Scotland ; it ranges also into Siberia as 

 far as the River Lena. 



Genus SOREX, Linnaeus. 



SOBEX VULGARIS, LINN&US. 



(Shrew.) 

 (Vert. Forest Bed, p. 97, PLATE XV., FIGS. 5-10.) 



Several mandibular rami and limb bones of Sorex vulgaris have 

 been found in the Forest-bed, and probably the specimen figured 

 by Sir R. Owen (Brit. Foss. Mamm., p. 28, fig. 14, No. 3), and 

 called Sorex remifer, belongs to this species. S. vulgaris has 

 been recorded from Cave deposits, and is now living throughout 

 middle Europe. 



SOREX PYGMJEUS, PALLAS. 



(Pigmy Shrew.) 

 (Vert. Forest Bed, p. 97, PLATE XV., FIGS. 11, 12..) 



Some small mandibular rami and limb bones from the Forest- 

 bed are believed to belong to Sorex pygmceus as well as the 

 specimen figured by Sir R. Owen as S.fodiens (Brit. Foss. Mamm, 

 p. 28, fig. 14, No. 1). 



This species is now living throughout Europe and North Asia, 

 and is said to occur in North Africa. 



