140 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Order Insectivora Insect-eaters 

 Canine teeth present but usually not conspicuously developed ; cheek teeth 

 formed fur chopping; toes provided with claws; irain small. {Species occur- 

 ring within our limits mostly very small, the largest seldom reaching 200 (8) in 

 length; eyes small or rudimentary ; fur distinctly modified for an underground life.) 

 •(Insectivora; N. Lat., insect eaters) 



The American insectivores are readily distinguished among the orders 

 of mammals occurring in North America by their small size, small or 

 rudimentary eyes, soft dense fur, many-pointed cheek teeth, and general 

 modification for an underground life. The order is widely distributed in 

 both hemispheres, but is absent in Atistralia; and in South America is at 

 present known from the extreme northwest only. Two of the nine fam- 

 ilies into which the order is usually divided occur in North America, and 

 both of these are found within our hmits. 



FAMIIilSS OF INSECTIVORA 



Fore feet highly modified for digging ; external ear absent( moles) . . T a 1 p i d a e 

 Pore feet not modified for digging; external ear present (shrews).. Soricidae 



Family Talpidae Males 



Body thick, stout and clumsy, without distinct neck; eyes rudimentary or 

 concealed ; no external ear; front feet very large, the nearly circular palm held edge- 

 wise; fur very soft and velvety. (Tiilpidae; from genus Talpa) 



Moles are found throughout the northern hemisphere except in the 

 ■extreme north. Eight or more genera are known, five of which occur in 

 North America. Three of these are found within our limits. They are 

 ■all members of the subfamily T a 1 p i n a e . 



GENERA OP TALPIDAE 



Tip of muzzle with a fringe of fleshy projections; tail long Condylura 



Tip of muzzle without fleshy projections; tail short. 



Teeth 36; tiiil slender, nearly naked Seal ops 



Teeth 44; tail thick, very hairy Parascalops 



Genus Condylura Illiger 



1811 Condylura Illiger, Prodr. syst. mamm. et avium, p. 125. (Type 



Sorex cristatus Linnaeus) 

 Tpeth 44; nostrils at tip of consjncuously fringed muzzle; tail nearly as long as 

 *o(J«/, densely haired. (Condylura; Gk., knotted tail) 



The genus Condylura is confined to eastern North America. 

 Only one species is known. 



