FOSSIL INSECT! VORA 31 



Talpid.-e, or ]\Ioles. 



Living. Europe, Asia, northern Africa and North America. 

 Eocene to Recent in Europe and North America. 



Completely subterranean ; fossorial or burrowing. Incisors not 

 pincer-like. A zygomatic arch present. Fore-limb very short and 

 powerful, specialized for digging. 



A small skull of a primitive ]\Iole, Proscalops, from the Mio- 

 cene of Colorado is on exhibition. It is Shrew-like in several 

 respects, showing an approach between the now distinct families 

 of Moles and Shrews. Other fragmentary remains of Moles are 

 shown. 



POTAMOGALID.^. 



Living. Madagascar and West Africa. Aquatic animals with 

 long eel-like tails. 



SOLEXODOXTID^. 



Living. Cuba and Hayti. 



Cextetid^. 



Living. Madagascar. 



Fossil species supposed to be related to these animals are 

 found in the Eocene {Centetodon) and Lower Oligocene {Microp- 



viM^ 



FIQ. 23. MICROPTERNODUS BOREALIS 



A small and primitive extinct insectivore. Lower jaw, inner and outer view, twice natural size. 



Oligocene Epoch, Montana 



ternodiis) of North America. This and the following family are 

 more primitive than any other mam.malia in the construction of 

 their teeth. 



