CHAP. XVII.] 
MAMMALIA. 
191 
and Ostend. Species of Myogale also occur from the Miocene 
downwards. 
Family 22. — SOKICIDiE. (1 Genus, 11 Sub-genera, <55 Species.) 
General. DisTiaBUt ion. 
Neotropical 
Sub-reo OSR. 
Neauctuj 
S UB-REO10N3. 
P.iL.-K WU'TIC 
Sub- hEu ions. 
IO'il 1 01*1 AM 
SUB-REU.ONM. 
Oriental 
SUB-hEUtOXA, 
\ 
Australian 
Scb-3 bhions. 
3 - 
1 . 2 . 3. 4 
1 . 2 . 3 .4 
1 . 2 . 3.4 
1 . 2 . 3. 4 
_ 
The Shrews have a wide distribution, being found throughout 
every region except the Australian and Neotropical ; although, as 
a species is found in Timor and in some of the Moluccas, they 
just enter this part of the former region, while one found in 
Guatemala brings them into the latter. A number of species have 
recently been described from India and the Malay Islands, so 
that the Oriental region is now the richest in shrews, having 28 
species; the Nearctic comes next with 24; while the Ethiopian 
has 11, and the Palsearctic 10 species. The sub-genera are 
Crossopus, Amphisorex, Neosorex , Crocidura , Diplomesodon,Pinulia, 
Pachyura, Marina, Feroculus, Anausorex. 
Extinct Species. — Several species of Sorex have been found 
fossil in the Miocene of the South of France, as well as the 
extinct genera Mysarachne and Plesiosorex ; and some existing 
species have occurred in Bone Caves and Diluvial deposits. 
General Bemarks on the Distribution of the Insectivora. 
The most prominent features in the distribution of the Insecti- 
vora are, — their complete absence from South America and Aus- 
tralia; the presence of Solenodon in two of the West Indian islands 
while the five allied genera are found only in Madagascar ; and the 
absence of hedgehogs from North America. If we consider that 
there are only 135 known species of the order, 65 of which belong 
to the one genus Sorex ; while the remaining 26 genera contain 
only 70 species, which have to be classed in 8 distinct families, 
and present such divergent and highly specialized forms as Galeo ~ 
pithecus , Erinaceus, Solenodon , and Condylura , it becomes evident 
that we have here the detached fragments of a much more 
