3o8 



INSECTIVORES. 



of complete collar-bones, or clavicles, connecting the blade-bones (scapula) with 

 the breast-bone, by which the order is at once distinguishable from the Camivora. 

 Externally, the Insectivores are verj^ generally characterised bj' their very long 

 and narrow snouts, in which the muzzle is produced considerably in advance of the 

 end of the lower jaw ; while their bodies are covered either with fur, or, more 

 rarely, with a protecting armour of si^ines. On opening the skull it will be found 

 that the upper surfaces of the lobes of the brain are smooth ; and thereby very 

 different from those of a Carnivore. 



There are other distinctive characters of the order, for the proper appreciation 

 of which a knowledge of anatomy is requisite. If, however, the whole of the 

 points mentioned above x-eceive due consideration, there will be but httle fear of 

 confusing an Insectivore with any other Mammal, except it be a Marsupial. The 

 Marsupials, however, as will be shown in the sequel, are broadly distinguished by 



SKELETON OF HEDGEHOG. 



man}' important characteristics ; while, were it not for the opossums, thcj' would 

 be restricted to the Australian region, in which Insectivores are unknown. More- 

 over, with the exception of the Virginian species, the opossums are confined to 

 South America, where Insectivores ai-e absent : and there is accoi-dingly not much 

 risk of a living Marsupial being mistaken for an Insectivore, or vice versa. In 

 all respects, as is well shown bj- their small and smooth brains, the Insectivores 

 occupy a very low position in the Mammalian series ; and, next to the Marsupials 

 and Monotremes of Australia, they maj' be regarded as more nearly allied to the 

 original primitive ilammalian stock than any other members of the class now 

 existing. Their nearest relatives are the bats, which, as already mentioned, may 

 be regarded merely as Insectivores specially modified for a life in the air. It 

 must not, however, be supposed that anj^ living Insectivore can be regarded as the 

 ancestral form of the bats : such ancestors having totally disappeared ages and 

 ages ago. In other directions indicated by extinct types, it is probable that 

 the Insectivores are allied to the lemurs on the one hand : while, on the other, they 

 may have been derived from the Marsupials. 



The Insectivores are widely scattered over the globe, although 

 absent from the two large regions mentioned above. Some of the 

 most curious foniis are found in Madagascar, Africa, and the West Indian Islands. 



Distribution. 



