FAMILY SORECID^E. 
13 
Condylura longicaudata. Richardson, F. B. A. p. 13. 
C. macroura. Id. ib. p. 284, pi. 24. 
C. longicaudata and macroura . Emmons, Mass. Report, 1840, p. 17. 
Characteristics. Color of a nearly uniform brownish black. Tail more than half the length 
of the head and body. Length 7. 
Description. Body cylindrical throughout, without any very distinct neck. Fur exceed¬ 
ingly dense and fine. Head with a slender elongated muzzle, terminating in a vertical circu¬ 
lar disk, of from eighteen to twenty subequal cartilaginous fibres ; of these, the two superior 
and four inferior are shortest, and not in the same plane with the others. These fibres are 
O'2 long. The eyes exceedingly minute, and not easily discovered ; but they may be found 
by examining the space above the angle of the mouth, where tliree or four rigid subequal 
hairs are apparent. Whiskers O'4 long, light-colored at the tips, and curved forwards. A 
large orifice in place of an external ear, not projecting above the skin. Fore feet short, with 
broad robust palms ; on their upper surface a series of horny scales, somewhat analagous to 
those on the feet of birds ; on the edges of the palms, these scales are accompanied with rigid 
hairs. The interior of the palms with small circular scales. The fingers gradually increase 
in size to the fourth from the exterior ; the outer equals the second from the interior. The 
claws are flattened, obtusely pointed, and channelled beneath. Hind feet placed far back, 
and quite feeble ; the toes distinctly separate and scaly ; the claws long, sharp, compressed, 
and channelled beneath. Tail sub-cylindrical, sparsely hairy, permitting the scales to be seen 
beneath, and pencilled at its tip. In cabinet specimens, the tail often appears knotted 
throughout, and strangulated at its base. The jaws present the remarkable peculiarity of two 
spoon-shaped incisors above and four beneath. In the upper jaw, on each side of these, are 
two other incisors, the first of which is long, and resembles a canine tooth; the other is 
separated by a small interval from the preceding, is very small, conic and compressed. The 
incisors of the lower jaw are spoon-shaped, approximated and subequal. The cheek teeth in 
both jaws vary much in form and size, the first of the lower jaw being long and pointed like 
a canine tooth. 
Color, throughout of a nearly uniform deep brownish black, varying somewhat according 
to the light in which it is viewed. The base of all the fur is of a deep slate color; beneatli 
of a lighter hue, and may be termed ashen or plumbeous. Feet whitish. I have noticed a 
specimen which was of a uniform soiled white. 
Total length,..... 
... 7'5. 
Hind leg,. 
Length of tail,_ 
... 2'8. 
Breadth of palm,_ 
Of fore feet,. 
... 0'7. 
Girth of body,. 
The name given by Illiger, which was founded on a figure which exhibited the knotted 
appearance of the tail in a desiccated specimen, and therefore not characteristic, it has been 
nevertheless found convenient to retain, as designating a remarkable generic type. Pennant, 
in his Synopsis of Quadrupeds, 1771, published a notice and figure of what he terms the 
