260 
ZOOLOGY, 
this burrow it constructs a nest of dried grass, in wliicli it 
lies curled up in an unconscious state. Peculiar to the 
Western plains is the prairie-dog {Cynomys Ludovicianus; 
see Frontispiece, on the right side), which represents the 
marmots of the Old World; it is semi-social, and takes in 
perforce as boarders the owl and rattlesnake, which devour 
its young. 
Order 3. Insectivora, — In tlie moles the fore feet are 
plantigrade, with large claws, and the entire limb is short, 
Fig. 299), the nose is long, and the tail shorter than the 
head and body. 
The genuine moles are the characteristic forms of the 
order; the most peculiar being the star-nosed mole, Condy- 
lura cristata, which occurs from the Atlantic to the Pacific 
Ocean, while the common mole (Fig. 300) is abundant in 
the Eastern United States. 
A flying form, with a superficial resemblance to the bat, 
and with the same habit of sleeping head downward, hold- 
ing on by its hind feet, is the GaleopWiecus of the East 
Indies. This singular creature has been placed among the 
lemurs by some authors. G, volans inhabits Java, Suma- 
tra, Borneo, and Siam. 
This creature, says Wallace, has a broad membrane ex- 
thick, muscular, and adapted 
for burrowing in the soil (Fig. 
298). The shrews comprise the 
smallest mammals. Nearly all 
.55 are nocturnal, burrowing under 
the surface, and never seen by 
^ day; consequently, their eyes 
are small, and mostly hid under 
the fur; while the ears are small 
and concealed by the hair. 
Fig. 298.— Bones of fore-leg of a 
Mole. 52, the cubital scapula; 53, 
humerus; 54, ulna; 55, radius. 
The shrews are mouse-like, 
having feet of the normal form, 
and a long nose. In our com- 
mon shrew {Sorex platyrJiinus, 
