MAMMALIA. 473 
of Europe, Zalpa europea (pl: 118, fig. 17), is a very troublesome animal in 
orchards, gardens, and cultivated lands generally. It was once supposed to 
exist in North America, but this is now known not to be the case. ‘Three 
well ascertained species of moles have been discovered in a fossil state in 
the tertiary beds of Europe. ‘The moles are replaced in North America by 
the two following genera. — 
The genus Scalops is strictly North American, and has a long head ter- 
minated by an extended, cartilaginous, flexible, and pointed snout; the 
eyes and ears are concealed by the hair, and very minute. ‘The hind feet 
are short and slender, with five toes, and delicate hooked nails; the fore 
feet or hands are broad, their claws long and flat, fitted, as in the mole, for 
excavating the earth. The common American shrewmole (S. aquaticus) is 
an example of this genus. It is spread over a wide area of the United 
States from Canada to Florida, and westwards as far as Kentucky. ‘Three- 
or four species more are known. 
-The genus Condylura, also North American, is characterized by certain 
cutaneous filaments which surround the nostrils and give to the nose a star-- 
like appearance, whence the name of star-nosed mole. The only species of: 
the genus hitherto known: is C. cristata. In their feet and their general 
appearance they resemble the mole, but-their tail is longer. — 
This family existed in North America during the tertiary epoch, and it is 
highly probable that pews belonging to the above genera will some day be 
discovered. 
The genus a rests upon a canine tooth which possesses a general 
resemblance to those of Scalops, but indicates an animal of a much larger 
size. The tooth itself is much more compressed than in any of the genera 
of the same family. ‘The remains of the only species were found in the lead 
region of [linois together with some pachyderms, of which we have already 
spoken. | 
- In Europe is found the genus Dimylus, with one species from the tertiary 
beds of Wirtemberg, known by a lower jaw in which only two molars are 
left, possessing a double row of tubercles; whilst in the genus Talpa, to. 
which it comes nearer, these tubercles form three rows. ; 
Fam. 2. Sortcipz#z. This family is composed generally of very smail: 
animals, whose body is covered with hair, with the general appearance of 
the mice, from which they greatly differ in their dentition... The-tail is more 
or less elongated, the body itself disproportionately slender; the limbs short; 
the snout more or less pointed. ‘They live under the ground, come seldom 
to the light, and are provided with very minute eyes. Some possess glands 
emitting eden odors. 
The genus Sorex (the shrews) is distinguished from the others of ih 
family by having under the skin, and upon each flank, a small band of stiff 
thickly set setae, between which, in the rutting season particularly, peculiar 
glands secrete an odorous fluid. The two upper middle incisors are hooked, 
and dentated at their base, the lower ones slanted and elongated; on each 
side, five above and two below, are small false molars, and three bristled or 
true molars throughout. The shrews live in holes, which they excavate in. 
677 
