XIII 



PHYLUM CHORDATA 



507 



dorsal surface, and some of them have prehensile tails. The Agoutis 

 and the Capybara {IJydrochcems) have hoof-like claws (Basyprocta), 

 the latter having webs between the digits. 



The Insectivora are, in general, small, furry, burrowing Mammals 

 with plantigrade limbs and an elongated muzzle. But there is a 

 considerable range of modification within the order in adaptation 

 to different modes of life. The Coh\gos (Galeopith ecus, Yig. 1122) 

 have a fold of skin (patagium) extending along each side of the neck 

 and body and continued between the hind-legs, enclosing the tail ; 



Pig. 1122.— Galeopithecus. (After Vogt^nd Specht.) 



the fore-and hind-feet are both webbed, and the tail is prehensile. 

 The Hedgehog (JErinaceus) has the surface beset with pointed 

 spines. The Moles (Talpa) and their allies, which are active 

 burrowers, have the limbs very short and stout and provided with 

 extremely strong claws. The jumping Shrews (Macroselididce) 

 have slender limbs adapted to progressing by leaps on the surface 

 of the ground. 



The Chiroptera (Fig. 1123) are the only Mammals which are 

 capable of active flight. The fore-limbs have'the segments greatly 

 elongated, especially the fore-arm and the four ulnar digits, and 



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