434 Fretp Museum or Narurat History — Zodtocy, Vor. XI. 
they fore-know their owne perdition) they flie to the superficies and 
very toppe of the earth, the silly beast knowing that the Molde their 
adversary, dare not follow them into the light, so that their wit in 
flying their enemy is greater, than in turning againe when they are 
troade upon”’ (1. ¢., p. 500). 
There was a curious ancient superstition in England concerning 
these animals to the effect that ‘‘if you whet a mowing syth in a fielde 
or meddow upon the feast day of Christs nativity, (commonly called 
Christmas day) all the Molles that are within the hearing thereof, 
will certainly for ever forsake that field, meadow or Garden.” 
Subtamily TALPINA. 
KEY TO OUR GENERA. 
End of muzzle with fringe of fleshy projections; tail more than 2 inches long; 
number of teeth 44. Genus CONDYLURA, p. 440. 
End of muzzle without fringe of fleshy projections; tail about I inch long and 
nearly naked; fore feet very large; number of teeth 36. 
Genus SCALOPUS, p. 434. 
Genus SCALOPUS Geoffroy. 
Scalopus Geoffroy, Cat. Mamm. Mus. d’Hist. Nat., 1803, p. 77. 
Palmer, N. Amer. Fauna, No. 23, 1904, p. 620. Type Scalopus 
virginianus Geoffroy = Sorex aquaticus Linn. 
Palate long; audital bulle present; infraorbital foramen opening 
into a large, nearly horizontal aperture extending from above anterior 
end of zygoma; first upper incisor large, 2d and 3d very small; no 
functional lower canine; lower incisors 2; end of muzzle without fringe 
of fleshy projections; tail short and nearly naked; fore mi tcl large; 
hind feet webbed. The milk dentition is I. = > C4 ha 
3-3 I-1 3-3) 
M. = 40. 
ae . 
Dental formula (adult): I. ss, C.-— Pm, Si, 373 = 36, 
go 373 3-3 
