16 Journal of the Mitchell Society. [March 



claws; brain small. (Our species are all small, under 8 inches 

 in length, eyes and ears small or rudimentary, fur more or 

 less molelike.) 



Two families occur in North America and another in the 

 West Indies, while no members of this group are known from 

 South America except the extreme northwest corner only. 

 a. Forefeet highly modified for digging; external ear absent 

 (Moles) Family Talpidae. 



aa. Forefeet not highly modified for digging; external ear 

 present (Shrews) Family Soricidae. 



FAMILY TALPIDAE (THE MOLES). 



Body thick and clumsy without distinct neck; eyes rudi- 

 mentary or concealed; no external ear; front feet very large, 

 the nearly circular palm held lengthwise; fur very soft and 

 velvety. 



a. Tip of muzzle with a fringe of fleshy projections; tail long; 



teeth 44. Genus Condylura. 



aa. Tip of muzzle without a fringe of fleshy projections; tail 



short. 



b. Teeth 36; tail slender and nearly naked. Genus Scalops. 



bb. Teeth 44; tail thick and very hairy. 



Genus Parascalops. 



genus condylura, illiger. 



33. C. cristata L. Starnosed Mole. Dusky brown, paler 

 and grayer below; tail nearly as long as head and body. L. 

 6^. T. 2Ji. Known only in this State from Mitchell county, 

 where it was taken at Magnetic City by the collectors of the 

 Biological Survey of the United States Department of Agri- 

 culture in 1892 or 1893, and from Buncombe county, where a 

 single specimen was taken by Mrs. J. S. Cairns, at Weaver- 

 ville, February 6, 1896. It is said to inhabit wet places. 



GENUS PARASCALOPS, TRUE. 



34. P. breweri Bachm. Brewer's Mole. Dark lead gray, 



