34 



NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. 



tNo. 38. 



coronoid process and angle of mandible broad and heavy, the former 

 usually with a small mammiform process on posterior border; teeth 

 medium. 



Measurements. — ^Average of 2 adult males from type locality: 

 Total length, 182.5 (180-185); tail vertebrse, 29.5 (28-31); hind foot, 

 21 (21-21). Average of 2 adult females from type locahty: 154.5 

 (154-155); 23 (23-23); 19.5 (19-20). Average of 15 adult males 

 from Washington, D.C.: 163.4 (154-175); 26.5 (22-29); 19.8(18-21). 

 Average of 8 adult females from Washington, D. C: 152.6 (146-168); 

 26 (21-28); 19 (18-20). Average of 6 adult males from Wareham, 

 Mass.: 159.8 (154-167); 26.3 (21.5-30); 19.9 (19.5-21). Slmll: 

 Average of 3 skulls of adult males from type locality : Greatest length, 

 35.3 (34.6-35.7); palatilar length, 14.8 (14.7-15); mastoidal breadth, 

 18 (17.8-18,2); interorbital breadth, 7.4 (7.3-7.5); maxillary tooth 

 row, 10.9 (10.9-11); mandibular molar-premolar row, 10.7 (10.6- 

 10.8). Average of 21 skulls of adult males from Washington, D. C, 

 and vicinity: Greatest length, 34.3 (33.2-35.6); palatilar length, 

 14.7 (14.3-15.2); mastoidal breadth, 17.7 (17-18.3); interorbital 

 breadth, 7.4 (7.2-7.8); maxillary tooth row, 10.8 (10.4-11.3); man- 

 dibular molar-premolar row, 10.4 (10.1-10.8). Average of 15 skulls 

 of adult females from Washington, D. C, and vicinity: Greatest 

 length, 32.9 (32.3-34.2); palatilar length, 13.9 (13.5-14.7); mastoidal 

 breadth, 17.1 (16.3-17.5); interorbital breadth, 7.4 (7-7.6); maxil- 

 lary tooth row, 10.4 (10.1-10.8); mandibular molar-premolar row, 

 10.2 (9.8-10.4). Average of 5 skulls of adult males from Wareham, 

 Mass.: Greatest length, 34.3 (33.8-34.8); palatilar length, 14.8 

 (14.5-15); mastoidal breadth, 18.1 (17.8-18.4); interorbital breadth, 

 7.7 (7.6-7.7); maxillary tooth row, 11 (10.8-11.2); mandibular 

 molar-premolar row, 10.7 (10.6-10.8). Average of 2 skulls of adult 

 males from Dismal Swamp (Wallaceton), Va. : Greatest length, 35.2 

 (35.1-35.2); palatilar length, 14.8 (14.6-15); mastoidal breadth, 18.1 

 (18-18.2); interorbital breadth, 7.5 (7.4-7.6); maxillary tooth row, 

 11.1 (11-11.2); mandibular molar-premolar row, 10.7 (10.6-10.7). 

 Skull of adult male from Koan Mountain, N. C. : Greatest length, 36.1; 

 palatilar length, 15.5; mastoidal breadth, 18.4; interorbital breadth, 

 7.8; maxillary tooth row, 11.3; mandibular molar-premolar row, 11. 



Remarks. — The first specific description of the common mole of 

 eastern United States is that under Sorex aguaticus Linnaeus;^ Lin- 

 naeus places in its synonymy "Talpa, Virginianus, niger'' of Seba; but 

 the description and figure ^ given by Seba seem to characterize the 

 European rather than the American mole; the Linnsean description, 

 however, clearly refers to the common mole of eastern America; as an 



1 Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 53, 1758. 



2 Seba, A., Thesaurus, vol. 1, p. 51, pi. 32, 1734. Seba's description of Talpa virginianus niger became the 

 basis for Shaw's diagnosis of Talpa purpurascens (Shaw, G., Gen. ZooL, Mamm., voL'l, p. 521, 1800), which 

 is therefore a synonym of Talpa europsea Linnseus. 



