308 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 Carnivora. 
Externally, the Insectivores are very generally characterised by 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 spines. 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 receive due consideration, there will be but little 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, 
many important characteristics; while, were it not for the opossums, they 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 are absent; and there is accordingly not much 
risk of a living Marsupial being mistaken for an Insectivore, or vice versd. In 
all respects, as is well shown by 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 may be regarded as more nearly allied to the 
original primitive Mammalian 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 any 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 forms are found in Madagascar, Africa, and the West Indian Islands. 
Distribution. 
