Order 3. 



CARNARIA. 



69 



use of its long, pointed head, the extremity of its muzzle heing provided with a peculiar little bone, and 

 the cervical muscles being extremely powerful. There is even an additional bone in the cervical hga- 

 ment. The hinder part of the body is feeble, and the animal above ground advances as awkwardly as 

 it does rapidly below the surface. Its sense of hearing is extremely acute, and the tympanum very 

 large, although there is no external ear; but the eyes are so small, and so hidden beneath the hair, 

 that their existence even was denied for a long while. [They have been ascertained, however, to be 

 tolerably sharp-sighted.] The genital organs have this peculiarityj that the bones of the pubis do not 

 become joined ; by reason of which, notwithstanding the narrowness of the pelvis, they are enabled to 

 produce tolerably large young ones : the urethra of the female passes through the cUtoris : she has 

 six teats. The Jaws are feeble, and the food consists of insects, worms, and some tender roots, [chiefly, 

 however, worths, though even small birds are sometimes sncrificed to their voracity, when they can 

 dart upon them from the entrance of their runs]. There are six incisors above and eight below.* The 

 canines have two roots, in wliich respect they partake of the nature of false molars f : behind them are 

 four false molars above, and three below ; and finally, three bristled molars. [The fur is set vertically 

 in the skin, whence it has no grain or particular direction.] 



Our common European Mole (T. Eiiropcea, Lin.)— Entirely black, but often varying to white, fulvous, or pied. 

 [A most remarkable.animal, not only for the ardour of its passions, appetites, and emotions, but for the curious 

 instincts with which it is endowed, more particularly with regard to the complicated regularity of its subterraneous 

 dweUing and galleries.] According to M. Harlan, this species likewise exists in North America [or, at any rate, 

 there is a species stated to be from that continent most closely allied to it, of which the Zoological Society of 

 London possess specimens.] 



M. Savi has found a Mole in the Apennines said to be quite blind, although otherwise similar to the common one 

 (the T. cceca, Sav.) : it is not, however, perfectly blind, for the' eyelids have an opening, though snaaller than in the 

 common. Mole. The existence of the optic nerve in this last species has been denied : I tliiuk I can demonstrate 

 it throughout its course. [Two other species are known, T.j(iponica and T. moogura.] 



The Condylures {Condylura, Illig.), — 

 Seem to combine the two kinds of dentition of the Insecfivora .- their upper jaw has two large trian- 

 gular incisors, two others which are extremely small and ^lender, and uj)on each side a strong canine ; 

 the lower jaw has four inciSors slanting forward, and a pointed canine of small size. Their superior 

 false molars are triangular, and separated ; the lower dentelated and trenchant. In their feet and whole 

 exterior, the animals of this genus resemble the Moles, but have a longer tail, and, what very readily 

 distinguishes them, their nostrils are encircled with small moveable cartilaginous points, which, when 

 they separate, radiate hke a star. ' 



[Tliree or four species are now known, all from North America. Among them is] Sorex cristafus, Lin. 



The Shrew-moles (Scalops, Cuv.) — 

 Have teeth rather similar to those of the Desmans, except that their small or false molars are less 

 numerous ; the muzzle is simply pointed, as in the Shrews ; and their hands are widened, armed with 

 strong nails, and in short adapted for digging into the ground precisely as in the Moles, which they 

 entirely resemble in their mode of life. Their eyes are equally small, and their ears concealed in the 

 same manner. 



Sorex aquaticiis, Lin.— Appears to inhabit a very great part of North America, along the rivers : externally, it 

 so nearly resembles the European Mole as to be readily mistaken for it. [Tliree other species, from the same 

 general locality, have been recently discovered. 



The Insectivora, according to the views of De Blainville, should constitute an entirely 

 distinct order, intermediate to the Cheiroptera and Edentata. 



They ])resent an almost unbroken series of successively distinct divisions, more or less allied 

 to"-ether. The most definite super-generic section is that composed of the four genera last in 

 order, or the various animals analogous to the European IMole. At the other end of the series, 

 the spinous genera, at first sight, appear equally separated ; but they certainly grade through 

 Ccntenes and then Gymnura to the Shrews, which are again related to the Tnlpidce; if, indeed, 

 the line of separation should not be drawn between Centenes, and Erinaceus and Echinops : the 



• Were this truly the case, it would be an anomaly throughout pla- 

 cental Mainnialia ; but as the lower canines, as thus assignt-d, close 

 within the upper, we are led to identify the exterior pair of seeming 



incisors as the real canines.— Ed. 



t There is no essential difference between canines and f&Ue molars. 

 See p. 65.— Ed. 



