TALrip.K.- 



-MAiniALIA.- 



-SoRICID.K 



05 



interest. Tlie skull exhibits a more conical form than 

 obtains in the trne moles. There are no less than 

 nineteen pairs of ribs, whilst in one species as many as 

 twenty have been counted. The sternum is provided 

 with small concave lateral appendages ; the first rib is 

 mnisually broad ; the clavicles and the scapul.-e are 

 long and' thin. The humerus is comparatively longer 

 than that of the common mole, and at the lower part 

 it is not only articulated to the radius and ulna, but also 

 to a third bone, specially developed to strengthen the 

 arm during the action of burrowing. This strange 

 supplenieittary osseous appendage is supposed to 

 represent one of the carpal elements of the wrist ; be 

 that as it may, the circumstance of these creatures' 

 possessing a fore-arm consisting of three long bones, 

 indicates an anatomical and morphological change 

 altogether without precedent in this region of the 

 inamniil'erous skeleton. The Lustrous Cape Mole or 

 Chrysoehlore — Fig. 19— is not quite so long as the 



Fig. 19. 



The Lustrous Cape Mole or Clirysochlore. 



conmion European mole. The fur is of a brownish 

 colour, capable of relleeting irridescent hues of green 

 and purple, which change to a copper or bronze tint ; 

 and thus we have brought before us, in the language 

 of Cuvier, " the only known quadruped which exhibits 

 any appearance of that splendid metallic lustre which 

 adorns so manj- birds, fishes, and insects." The species 

 under consideration is found at the Cape of Good 

 Hope, but other kinds are obtained from the same 

 locality, as well as from the neighbourhood of Slozam- 

 bique. 



Family II.— SORICID.E. 



From a consideration of the moles we pass by a very 

 natural transition to the Soricidte, which are more 

 commonly known as the shrews, or shrew-mice. They 

 have a very general resemblance to ordinary mice; 

 but while the latter have their front teeth formed for 

 gnawing vcgeta\)le structures, the former are entirely 

 insect-feeders, as in the case of the moles. The 

 typical Soricidaj exhibit conspicuous eyes and ears, 

 nod the feet are not formed lor burrowing in the soil, 



YuL. I. 



or, in other words, are non-fossorial. In some of the 

 aberrant types we still recognize the peculiar talpinc 

 features, and so much so is this the case in the genua 

 wo shall here fiist elucidate, that it becomes almost a 

 matter of indifference whether we class them as moles 

 or shrews, or, on the other hand, altogether recognize 

 them as a separate osculant group. 



THE SHEEW MOLE {Sca!oji8 CKjMittcus). — This 

 species, in common with others of the genus Scalops, 

 presents a stout, thickset, cylindrical body, the limljs 

 being remarkably short. The pcntadactylous feet and 

 hands very closely resemble those of the common mole, 

 especially the latter, which are also situated close to 

 the auditory opening. The head terminates anteriorly 

 in a movable snout, which is naked at the ti|i. I'hc 

 teeth arc probably forty-four in number, but a con- 

 siderable dilVercnec of opinion exists on this point. 

 According to Professor Owen there are twelve incisois, 

 four canines, sixteen false grinders, and twelve true 

 molars; half of these severally 

 belonging to either jaw. The 

 ej'es arc extremely snudl and 

 concealed by the fur. Tlio 

 colour of the hair is, generally 

 speaking, of a greyish-black, 

 approaching to brown in some 

 regions, especially on the fore- 

 head, where it assumes a 

 chestnut tinge. The length of 

 the body is rather more than 

 seven and a half inches, not 

 including the tail, which is 

 i<hort, annulated, and • vciy 

 thinly clothed with hair! The 

 shrew-moles are inhabitants of 

 the low grounds and marshy 

 districts bordering on the river 

 Columbia, and the adjacent 

 coasts of the Pacific. Sir 

 John Richardson speaking of 

 their habits says, that they resemble our common 

 European mole, " in leading a subterranean life, 

 forming galleries, throwing up little moui'.ds of earth, 

 and in feeding principally on earthwornos and grubs. 

 Dr. Godman has given a detailed and interesting 

 account of their manners, particularly of one which 

 was domesticated by Mr. Titian Peale. He men- 

 tions that they are most active, early in the morning, 

 at mid-day, and in the evening, and that they are 

 well known in the country to have the remarkable 

 custom of coming daily to the surface exactly at noon. 

 They may be taken alive by thrusting a spade beneath 

 them and throwing them on the surface, but can 

 scarcely be caught at any other period of the day. 

 They burrow in a variety of soils, and in wet seasons 

 are observed to retreat to the higher grounds. The 

 captive one in possession of Mr. Peale ate considerable 

 quantities of fresh meat, either cooked or raw, drank 

 freely, and was remavkablj' lively and jjlayful, following 

 the hand of its feeder by the scent, burrowing for a 

 short distance in the loose earth, and, after making a 

 small circle, returning for more food. AVlien engaged 

 in eating he employed his flexible snout in a singular 



I 



