596 



MANUAL OF ZOOLOGY. 



soles of the feet, or is plantigrade. The testes pass periodically 

 from the abdomen into a temporary scrotum ; and the placenta 

 is deciduate and discoidal. They are mostly nocturnal and 

 subterranean, and generally hybernate. They are all of small 

 size, and are found everywhere, except in the continents of 

 South America and Australia, where their place is filled by 

 Marsupials. 



The three leading families of the 

 Insectivora are the Talpidm or Moles, 

 the Soricidm or Shrew mice, and the 

 ErinaceidcB or Hedgehogs. 



Fam. I. TaJpidcB. — -The body in 

 this family is covered with hair ; the 

 feet are formed for digging and bur- 

 Fig. 232.-insectivora. Skull of rowing, and the toes are furnished 



the common Hedgehog (Erinar .,- *^' , , rr^, 



ceus Eurofxits). With Strong curvcd claws. There 



are no external ears ; and the eyes 

 in the adult are rudimentary, and more or less completely 

 useless as organs of vision. There is a peculiar bone for the 

 support of the muzzle. The clavicles are strong, the arm very 

 short, the hand wide, and the palm always turned outwatds 

 and backwards. The fur is short and velvety, and the tail 

 very short or wanting, in most cases. 



Fig. 233. — European Mole {Titlpa Europcpa). 



The common Mole {Talpa Europaa, fig. 233) is the only 

 British species of the family, and a representative form {Con- 

 dylurd) occurs in North America. One of the most remarkable 

 of the TalpidcB is the Golden Mole {Chrysochloris aureus) of 

 Africa. In form and habits this species resembles the corti- 

 mon Mole, but the hairs of the fur have the property of dis- 

 persing the rays of light, and thus of giving rise to beautiful 



