PALJiOSPALAX MAGNUS. 25 



Fig. 12. 



Nat. size. 



PAL^EOSPALAX MAGNUS. 



At Ostend, near Bacton, on the coast of Norfolk, there 

 is a lacustrine deposit of dark clay and greenish sand, 

 with the ruins of an ancient forest, indicated by over- 

 thrown charred trunks, compressed branches, and leaves 

 of trees ; this forms a very rich mine of organic re- 

 mains. The stupendous Mammoth, two or three species 

 of Deer, and the graceful Roebuck, have left, in their 

 abundant and well-preserved bones and teeth, the evi- 

 dences of the extinct population of that forest. Its 

 streams were tenanted by gigantic Beavers, and were 

 also frequented by a water-mole, which as much surpassed 

 any known existing species in size, as the Trogontherium 

 did the Castor of Canada or continental Europe. This 

 extinct Insectivore, for which I propose the name of 

 Paleeospalax* is clearly referable to the Talpida, or Mole 

 tribe, by the most important part of its dental system, 

 but was as large as a Hedgehog.-f* 



This interesting addition to the extinct British Insecti- 

 vora, which is the only example of a form in that order, 



* Greek, palaios, ancient, spalax, mole. 



f It is probably referred to by Mr. Green, in his ' Geology of Bacton,' 8vo., 

 1842, p. 12, "Rodentia, bones, jaws, and teeth, of four species, probably arvi- 

 cola, shrew, hedgehog, and mole." At least, I have seen no true remains of 

 the Hedgehog in the collections of Bacton fossils in the British Museum, or in 

 that of Norwich. 



