LADDER 429 



by jerking the body along with its fore feet. It is hairy, 

 having no under-fur. 



Harbor Seal phoca vitulina. 



Length, 4 feet. 



ORDER OF INSECT EATERS 

 Insectivora 



Chiefly small burrowing animals, having glands, where 

 their fore legs join the body, that secrete an offensive odor 

 which protects them from the attacks of flesh eaters. It is 

 not entirely proven that this order lives wholly on insect 

 food. 



The Shkew Family 



Soricidae 



(Number of North American Species, Twenty) 



Mouse-like heads ; bodies covered with hair. Shrews live 

 in shallow burrows, and their young are blind and naked at 

 birth. 



Short-tailed Shrew Blarina brevicauda. 



Length of body, 3f inches ; tail, 1 inch. 



Least Shrew Sorex personatus. 



Length of body, 2 J inches ; tail, 1^ inches. 



Mole Family 

 Talpidae 



(Number of North American Species, Eight) 



Common Hole Scalops aquaticus. 



Length of body, i\ inches ; tail, 1 inch. 



Having a simple pointed nose; front feet broad and 

 shovel-like; back feet webbed; short, naked tail. 



Star-nosed Mole Condylura cristafa. 



Length of body, 3| inches ; tail, d inches. 



End of snout surrounded by thread-like appendages, 

 arranged in the shape of a star. Tail long and slightly 



