Inseotivora. MAMMALIA. Insectivoba. 
xxxiii 
Family — TALPID.®. 
This family is characterized by the absence of ex- 
ternal ears, by having no visible neck, the fore-feet 
greatly expanded, with stout fossorial, claws, and 
limbs very short. The auditory opening is in some 
species very minute, in others as large as usual. The 
eye is extremely small, and often concealed by the 
integument. The nostrils are sometimes at the end 
of the snout, and in others lateral or superior. In 
one genus the snout is surrounded by a fringe, which 
radiates evenly in the form of a star. The tail is 
usually short ; in some it is as long as the body. The 
fur is soft, compact and velvet-like. Moles are dis- 
tributed over the world, with the exception of inter- 
tropical portions, and South America and Australia. 
Three types are peculiar, respectively : Talpa to Europe 
and Asia ; Scalops to North America ; Chrysochloris 
to South Africa. All are quite limited in species. 
Urotrichus is a genus hitherto considered peculiar to 
the Cascade Mountains of Washington Territory, but 
has lately been found in Japan, and thus proves to be 
the only one known to inhabit the two continents. 
In America the Moles are found in almost all por- 
tions, as far south as Mexico. Condylura inhabit the 
northern portion of the United States, from the 
Atlantic to the Pacific. One, or possibly two, species 
of Scalops is restricted to the Pacific Coast ; one to 
the Atlantic ; one is found sparsely in Massachusetts, 
New York and Ohio, and another on the prairies of 
Michigan, Illinois and the West. 
The genus Talpa does not exist in America, nor 
does the American Scalops inhabit any part of Eu- 
rope. 
A genus — Chrysochloris — called the Cape or Gilded 
Mole, from its beautiful greenish-golden fur, is con- 
fined wholly to South Africa. It differs from the true 
Moles in having three fingers developed in the fore- 
paws, instead of five. The teeth are less in number ; 
but in general aspect, and in habits, it resembles the 
Mole ; their galleries are somewhat deeper. Three 
species are known : one from the Cape, one from 
Natal, and a third from Mozambique. 
Extinct Species. 
The Mole has been found fossil in bone caves and 
diluvial deposits, and several extinct species of Mole- 
like animals occur in the Miocene deposits of the 
south of France and of Germany. 
Scalops. 
This genus is characterized by an elongated nose, 
without fringe ; nostrils superior or lateral ; eyes 
hidden; tail short; teeth thirty-six or forty- four, 
the two anterior upper ones unusually large, and 
somewhat like those of a Eodent. The feet have 
very large, broad palms ; the claws are large, de- 
pressed, five in number; the hind feet much nar- 
rower than the anterior ; the toes are more or less 
webbed to the claws. The tail is short, naked and 
hairy. Eyes are very small, sometimes covered by 
the integument. Snout is long, depressed, conical 
VoL. I. — e. 
and cartilaginous. The nostrils open either at the 
end of the muzzle, or laterally or superiorly. 
COMMON MOLE [Scalops aquaticus). — I'his species 
has the same designation as the European species, 
but the habits and general appearance are quite dis- 
tinct. The American Scalops aquaticus, or Shrew- 
mole, has thirty-six teeth ; eyes and ears excessively 
minute ; the former not covered by integument. 
Nostrils antero-superior ; palms broader than long, 
claws included. Tail nearly naked ; feet fully webbed. 
Color dark plumbeous, with occasionally a brownish 
tinge. Feet and tail white. This form is bulky and 
shapeless ; its claws are the most noticeable feature, 
being large and immensely strong, as is requisite for 
the work that it accomplishes under ground. Its 
favorite food being the earth-worm, gardens are 
consequently the scene of its labors, as well as 
other localities, where it proves often to be a doubt- 
ful benefactor — the good resulting from the destruc- 
tion of earth-worms being counterbalanced by the 
innumerable furrows executed just below the surface 
of garden beds and walks. The Shrew-mole has a 
wide geographical range, being found from Carolina 
as far as 50“ of North latitude, and from the At- 
lantic to the Pacific Coast. In size it is the same as 
the British species — about seven inches in length. 
SILVER OR PRAIRIE MOLE [Scalops argentatm ). — 
This is very similar to the preceding, and small speci- 
mens are with difficulty distinguished. It is larger 
than S. aquaticus, palms rather narrower, and has a 
silvery plumbeous fur, which has been likened to 
recently cut lead. The general color of the feet and 
tail is white, the latter being more hairy than in the 
other species, as well as longer. The ear is also a 
little larger. A species is described by Bachman, 
under the name Scalops latirnanus — Broad-handed 
Shrew. Its characters are given as follows : Larger 
than the common Shrew, intermediate in size between 
S. townsendii and S. breweri. Hair longer and thin- 
ner than on either of the other species, and slightly 
curled. Palms larger than any other known. Tail 
naked, and color nearly black. Inhabits Mexico and 
Texas. 
OREGON MOLE [Scalops townsendii ). — This species 
is characterized by a general color of dark purplish, 
almost sooty-black, nearly uniform. Eye small, not 
covered by integument. Tail rather scantily covered 
by hair. Nostrils opening on the upper surface of 
the tip of the snout. Palm large and broad. A 
variety from California is less in size, with palms, tail 
and muzzle thicker. The nostrils are more terminal. 
The color is a light sooty-brown. Tail more hairy. 
HAIRY-TAILED MOLE [Scalops Jreweri).— Dis- 
tinguished by large ear openings, eyes covered by in- 
tegument, lateral nostrils, rather narrow, a densely 
hairy tail, dark plumbeous color, glossed with ashy- 
brown. The fur is long and full, not quite so glossy 
and soft as in the S. aquaticus. 
Condylura. 
This genus has the peculiarity of the fringed or 
star-shape to the nose, a series of elongated caruncles 
surrounding the end of the snout. The nostrils are 
