56 MAMMALIA. 



Genus MYOaALE, Cuvier. 

 Mtogale moschata, linn^.us. 



(Vert. Forest Bed, p. 98, Plate XVI., Figs. 1-10.) 



Sir Richard Owen in the year 1846 (Brit. Foss. Mamm., p. 46; 

 described the jaw of a peculiar Insectivore from the Forest-bed 

 of Ostend, near Bacton, and named it Palceospalax magnus ; but 

 M. Lartet in 1863 (Compt. Kend., p. 1201) waa convinced of 

 its specific identity with the Russian Desman {Myogale moschata), 

 a determination which has been confirmed by subsequent obser- 

 vation. 



JSIumerous specimens have since been found, including upper 

 and lower jaws with teeth, as well as limb-bones, which were 

 described in the Forest-bed Memoir, and on comparison were 

 found to agree precisely with the corresponding bones of the 

 recent M. moschata, a skeleton of which is fortunately preserved 

 in the Royal College of Surgeons. 



The cheek-teeth of the living M. moschata are sharp pointed 

 and numerous, there being 10 in the upper jaw and nine in the 

 lower, on each side. The three true molars of both upper and 

 lower jaws have a double V-shaped pattern. In the upper jaw, 

 immediately in front of the molars, is a tooth smaller than the 

 molars, but larger and more complex than the simple crowned 

 teeth placed anterior to it, the first four of which are subequal 

 and of moderate size, while the two anterior ones are much 

 smaller. In the lower jaw there are six simple crowned teeth, 

 the three anterior one.s being much smaller than the others. The 

 humerus has a peculiar form, but it is not so aberrant as that of 

 the mole. 



At the present day Myogale is represented by two species, 

 M. moschata and M. pyrcenaica, both of which have a restricted 

 distrilmtion ; the ibrmer being found only in the district between 

 the rivers Don and Volga, in Russia ; while the latter, and smaller 

 species, is living in the Pyrenees. 



Myogale moschata has only been found fossil in the Forest- bed 

 of Bacton, West Runton, and Beeston, near Cromer. 



