chap, xvii.] MAMMALIA. 191 



and Ostend. Species of Myogalc also occur from the Miocene 

 downwards. 



Family 22.— SOKICID^E. (1 Genus, 11 Sub-genera, 65 Species.) 



The Shrews have a wide distribution, being found throughout 

 every region except the Australian and Neotropical ; although, as 

 a species is found in Timor and in some of the Moluccas, they 

 just enter this part of the former region, while one found in 

 Guatemala brings them into the latter. A number of species have 

 recently been described from India and the Malay Islands, so 

 that the Oriental region is now the richest in shrews, having 28 

 species ; the Nearctic comes next with 24 ; while the Ethiopian 

 has 11, and the Palsearctic 10 species. The sub-genera are 

 Crossopus, Amphisorex, Ncosorex, Crocidura, Diplomesodon,Pinulia, 

 Pachyura, Blarina, Feroculus, Anausorex. 



Extinct Species. —Several species of Sorex have been found 

 fossil in the Miocene of the South of France, as well as the 

 extinct genera Mysarachne and Plesiosorex ; and some existing 

 species have occurred in Bone Caves and Diluvial deposits. 



General Remarks on the Distribution of the Insectivora. 



The most prominent features in the distribution of the Insecti- 

 vora are, — their complete absence from South America and Aus- 

 tralia; the presence of Solenodon in two of the West Indian islands 

 while the five allied genera are found only in Madagascar ; and the 

 absence of hedgehogs from North America. If we consider that 

 there are only 135 known species of the order, 65 of which belong 

 to the one genus Sorex ; while the remaining 26 genera contain 

 only 70 species, which have to be classed in 8 distinct families, 

 and present such divergent and highly specialized forms as Galeo- 

 pithecus, Erinaceus, Solenodon, and Condylura, it becomes evident 

 that we have here the detached fragments of a much more 



