1024 Recent Literature. [October 
Laplace and Kant. The book is written by an earnest thinker f l 
the use of earnest thinkers, by whom, even if not in all poiats — 
agreed with, it will be held in high esteem. 
= Dosson’s MONOGRAPH OF THE INSECTIVORA. —The well know 
and able author of a “ Natural History of the Chiroptera” hasin 
this monograph, two of the three parts of which are now issued 
extended his labors to the more complicated group of the Insee- 
tivora. His classification is, ostensibly, founded upon 
Mivart, and Gill, and recognizes two sub-orders, one of whid 
(Dermoptera) contains the flying lemur or Galeopithecus, while 
the other (Bestiz), includes all other insectivores. The Besti 
are ranged in two groups and five super-families, viz: Tupaioides, 
Erinaceoidea, Soricoidea, Centetoidea, and Chrysochloridea. The 
Tupaiide and Macroscelide are ranged in the first super 
family; the Talpidæ and Soricide in the third; the Centetide, 
Solenodontidæ and Mythomyidz in the fourth. The other supe 
families contain but a single family each. The Erinaceide a 
selected to commence the study of the order, on account of the 
fact that they afford the largest species to be found in the first 
three super-families which form the first group, and are characte 
ized by molars with broad W-shaped crowns. The Centetide, 
equally typical of the second group with V-shaped molar crowns, 
and also of large size, follow the true hedgehogs. | Two ae 
of Gymnura are recognized, viz: raffesii and suilla, the = 
differing mainly in the shortness of the tail, and in tts s i 
size. Of Erinaceus nineteen species are enumerated, maes 
which are African, while all the others occur in AS 
only in the Palzarctic region in both Europe and Asia. : 
genera of Centetide contain but eight species, all Ma 
though Centetes ecaudatus is found also in the Comoro pro 
and also in Bourbon and Mauritius, in which islands it has pro 4 
ably been introduced. The sub-family Oryzorictine spec 
only Oryzorictes hova, a species at present known by two sf, 
mens in the Paris Museum. Microgale with two sg he 
.Geogale with one, are recent additions to the Cent Ç pare 
though Solenodon cubanus is enumerated as distinct from material 
doxus, it is allowed to be so ċlosely allied that adea habits a 
may prove it a local variety. Nothing is known of he sole aid : 
this genus in its wild state. Mythomys velox 1S still C o ntetidt 
little known example of its family, which differs from pes 
and Solenodontidz in the absence of clavicles, and has the sÉ 
of the molar teeth intermediate between the V-shap®t rom is 
oye Tal ide. From ~ 
these families and the W-shaped ones of taip good swit: 
large, laterally flattened fish-like tail, it is evidently a go" : 
mer, as stated by Du Chaillu. 
" : i tomical. By 
A eae we, the Insectivora, Systematic and Anato 7382.83 
ED 
M.A., F.R arts I and 11. London, J. Van Voorst, ; e 
