32 
UPPER MAMMAL GALLERY. 
floor. In North America Moles are represented by several 
distinct genera, such as ( 271 ) and Condylura ( 277 ), 
the latter being the curious Star-nosed Mole. In Japan there 
is the Mole-Shrew, Urotriclius ( 273 ), represented by an allied 
species in North America. 
Fig. 19. 
A, Fore-foot of Mole. B, Fore-foot of Golden Mole. 
Tlie digits are distinguislied by numerals, tlie fifth being absent in 
the Golden Mole. 
The Shrew-Mice (Soricidce) form a family containing a large 
number of Mouse-like animals differing from one another 
. mainly by slight variations in their teeth, but all presenting 
much the same external appearance. The great majority are 
terrestrial in their habits, as, for example, tjie English Common 
and Pigmy Shrews, Sorex araneus ( 252 ) and S. minutus ( 253 )^ 
which burrow on or close to the surface of the ground, and live 
on small beetles, worms, or such other animal food as they can 
obtain. The larger Indian Shrews, Crocidura ( 257 - 260 ), are 
])rovided with unusually large scent-glands, by means of which 
a substance of a most penetrating odour is secreted. Others 
live in ponds and streams, feeding on water-beetles and 
crustaceans, after which they swim and dive with great facility. 
To this group belongs the British Water-Shrew, JSeomys fodiens 
( 250 ), a beautiful velvet-coated animal with a long tail, and feet 
provided, like those of the Desmans, with lateral swimming- 
bristles. 
The family of Tenrecs {Centetidoe)^ which is confined to 
Madagascar and the Comoro Islands, consists of several genera 
and species. Among these ,may be mentioned the Spiny 
