612 INSECTIVORA 
chloris to 6 in Talpa and S22: ; and of the caudal from the rudi- 
mentary series of $ in Centetes to the £0 or more of Mieregale. Not 
less variable are the characters of the vertebrae themselves: the 
spinou: processes often being very lonz in one and shert in another 
species of the same genus. In the + ricide and Mu-gale the neural 
arches of the cervical vertebre are very slender. In the Swristiat 
and Gymnura the four anterior vertebre develop large single hrpa- 
Mvysgale, and Tulpa small oval ossicles are found on the inferior 
surfaces of the lumbar interspaces. In LEvinaceus, owing to the 
thickness of the neural cord in the cervical region and its abrupt 
termination, the diameter of the neural canal in the cervical and 
first two dorsal vertebre greatly exceeds that of any of the succeed- 
ing vertebre. The sternum is variable, but generally narrow, 
bilobate in front, and divided into segments. The pectoral girdle 
presents some remarkable adaptive modifications, most fully ex- 
pressed in July, having relation to the use cf the jore limbs in 
burrowing; but in the Golden Moles (Cirvscchloris) the forearm 
and manus alone become specially modified ior this purpose. In 
Galespithecus and Muacrescelides the bones of the forearm (radius 
and ulna) are distally united. The manus has generally five dizizs, 
but in Fé:nchocyon and in one species of Orvzrictzs the pollex is 
wanting, while in the true Moles it is extremely modified. The 
femur has, in most species, a prominent ridge below the greater 
trochanter representing a third trochanter. In Galepithecus, Zupaia, 
Centetes, Hemicentetes, Friculus, and Sslzncdon the tibia and fibula 
are distinct, but in all the other genera more or less united 
together. The pes usually possesses five digits (rarely four by 
reduction of the hallux); and in some forms, as in the leaping 
species (Macreseelides, Rhunehecvon), the tarsal bones are greatly 
elongated. The form of the pelvis. and especially of the sym- 
physis pubis, varies within certain limits: and these differences 
have been proposed by Leche as a basis for the classification cf the 
families. Thus in the Gulespithecida, Tupaiide, and Maercse-lidide 
there is a long symphysis; in the Erinaccidx, Ceat:tide, and P<tame- 
galide the symphysis is shorz: and in the S-ncidz, Talpide, and 
Chrusochloride there is none. 
Space does not admit of attempting a sketch of the modifica- 
tions of the muscular system, which will be found fully described 
in Dr. Dobson's Wenearaph, referred to in the biblicgraphy. As to 
the nervous system, it has been already mentioned that the brain 
throughout the order presents a low type of organisation; in none 
ct the members do the cerebral hemispheres present any trace of 
convolutions, nor do they extend backwards so as to cover the 
cerebellum, while the olfactory lobes are large and project in front, 
