84 



NORTH AMEBICAN FAUNA. 



[No. 38. 



distinctly annulated, scaled, and covered with coarse blackish hairs; 

 in summer the tail is slender, slightly depressed, gradually tapering 

 apically, and slightly constricted proximally; in winter it is greatly 

 enlarged, thick and fleshy, gradually tapering apically, and abruptly 

 much constricted at the base (fig. 19). Head narrow, 

 not much depressed. Snout moderately elongate, ter- 

 minating in a naked disk surrounded on its margin by 

 a fringe of twenty-two nasal processes sym.metrically 

 arranged, eleven on each side of a median line (fig. 20). 

 Nostrils nearly circular, situated in anterior surface of 

 nasal disk. Eyes small (relatively large for Talpidse; 

 larger than in Scalopus, Scapanus, or Parascalops) , con- 

 cealed in fur. Auricular orifice large. Legs short; 

 weaker than in Scalopus, Scapanus, or Parascalops. 

 Feet large, not especially fleshy, scaled, scarcely haired 

 above, naked below. Fore feet handiike, the palms as 

 broad as long, toes relatively long; first, second, third, 

 and fourth toes each with three flat, triangular pro- 

 cesses on outer inferior edge, the basal process on the 

 first toe being small and inconspicuous. Fore claws 

 relatively long, broad (but narrower than in Scalopus, 

 Scapanus, or Parascalops) , depressed, the superior sur- 

 face turned obliquely outward (fig. 21). Hind feet rel- 

 atively long and narrow, broader apically than basally; 

 a large depressed triangular plantar tubercle lies near 

 the base of the first digit, and dis tally and inwardly on 

 the sole are five smaU tubercles. Hind claws relatively 

 long, laterally compressed, the outer surface turned 

 obliquely upward (fig. 22). Toes not webbed. Fur 

 dense, long, and silky (relatively coarser than in Scalo- 

 pus, Scapanus, or Parascalops) ; some of the hairs longer 

 and coarser than the major portion, which forms a dis- 

 tinct underfur. Mamm^, 8: latero-pectoral, 2-2; 

 latero-abdominal, 1-1; inguinal, 1-1. 



Slceletal cJiaracters. — Clavicle relatively long and nar- 

 row (for Talpidse), length about twice the breadth, 

 slightly concave superiorly and convex inferiorly, not 

 penetrated by a foramen. Humerus about two-thirds 

 as broad as long, much weaker medially than in Para- 

 scalops. Pelvis narrow, bones of opposite sides not 

 touching under acetabula; no osseous bridges connect- 

 ing sacral vertebrae with ischium. Superior sinface of 

 last sacral vertebra with a distinct, flat, deltoid, longitudinal process. 

 Os f alciforme small but distinct, short, reaching proximal end of first 

 metacarpal; moderately broad, not much tapering distaUy. 



Skull long and narrow, not much flattened, with relatively high 

 and narrow braincase, not constricted interorbitaUy, tapering 



B2025-103 



Fig. 19.— Tail of 

 Condylura crista- 

 ta (X IJ). Au- 

 tumnal enlarge- 

 ment scarcely be- 

 gun. No. 144473, 

 U. S. Nat. Mus.; 

 from Egelston 

 township, Mus- 

 kegon County, 

 Mich., August 20, 

 1906. 



