CHRYSOCHLORIDA 639 
bulla. Upper molars tritubercular, with the crowns very tall. 
No pubic symphysis; the tibia and fibula united. The eyes are 
covered by the hairy integument ; the ears short and concealed by 
the fur; the internal generative organs are as in Centetine ; the 
mamme are thoracic and inguinal and placed in cup-shaped depres- 
sions. Habits fossorial. Confined to the southern part of the 
Ethiopian region, not extending to Madagascar. 
This family is closely allied to the Centetide, occupying the 
same relative position with respect to that family that the Talpide 
does to the Soricide. Compared with the Talpide, we find the 
following differences in the structural adaptation to a fossorial life ; 
the manubrium sterni is not anteriorly elongated, neither are the 
Fic. 296.—The Golden Mole (Chrysochloris obtusirostris). 
clavicles shortened ; but this is compensated for by a deep hollowing 
out of the antero-lateral walls of the thorax, the ribs in these parts 
and the sternum being convex inwards. The long clavicles have 
their distal extremities pushed forward, and the concavities on the 
sides and inferior surface of the thorax lodge the thick muscular 
arms. 
Chrysochloris.A—Dentition : 1 3, ¢ 4, p 3, m SS ; total 40 or 36 
Vertebre: C 7,D 19, L 3,8 5, C 8. This genus includes some 
seven or eight South African species, commonly known as Golden 
Moles (Fig. 296). Those species, in which the molars are reduced 
to 2, with a basal talon to the lower ones, and without a prominence 
in the temporal fossa, have been placed in a separate genus, 
Chalcochloris, by Professor Mivart. Nearly all the species have the 
fur of the upper surface of a brilliant metallic lustre, varying from 
golden bronze to green and violet of different shades. The manus 
1 Lacépede, Mém. de 0 Institut, vol, iii. p. 493 (1801—read 1799). 
