Insbctr'oka. MAMMALIA.- 
-Carnivora. 
circular and terminal ; tail nearly as long as the body, 
covered by hair. Auditory opening large. This 
group of Moles is peculiar to the northern portions 
of North America. 
STAR-NOSED MOLE {Conclylum cristata)—Y\g. 18, 
vol. i, p. 64. — 'I'll is has the general form of Moles. 
'I'he color is a uniform dark sooty-brown or blackish- 
'I’he tail is long, without the hairs, about as long as the 
body, exclusive of the head. The term Oondylure. 
meaning ‘‘ knotty-tail,” is absurdly given it, and has 
even been adopted as a generic designation, because the 
tail, when dried, becomes knotted, from the protusion 
of the vertebvie. The rayed appendage gives to this 
creature a most singular aspect, situated on the ex- 
tremity of its long and slender snout ; its uses are 
not clearly understood, though it may be service- 
able in affording a delicate medium of touch, while 
in the dark caverns that it delights in. 
Urotrichus. 
This is a genus established by 'I’emminck, which 
is characterized as follows : “ It has the muzzle pro- 
longed into a cylindrical tube, which is continued 
some distance beyond the incisors, and terminates in 
a simple, naked bulb. 'I’lie nostrils are cylindrical, 
and open on the side. 'I’he eyes and ears are con- 
cealed. 'Tail is long and hairy. Fore-feet moderately 
large, and shorter than the hind ones, the upper and 
under surfaces of both covered with small plates.” 
'I’he interesting fact of the discovery of a member of 
tills group in America is thus recorded by Frof. 
Fail'd in U. S. P. R. R. Explorations and Surveys. 
Zoology, vol. viii : “ I have the pleasure of first intro- 
ducing a genus of Insectivorous Mammals into the 
Fauna of North America, hitherto only represented 
by a single species, tlie U. talpoides from Japan. 
'I’he specimen is unfortunately not quite mature, anil 
the skull, with its dentition, is imperfect, so that I am 
obliged to rely on 'J’emminck for the dental formula. 
In external form, this animal exhibits a close resem- 
blance to Condylura, the only striking difference 
being in the much elongated and tubular muzzle, 
without radiations, and the nostrils lateral, not ter- 
minal. 'I’he feet, hands and tail are very similar. 
'J’he dental formula, according to 'remminck, is : In- 
cisors, ; Canines, ; Molars, f-f ; = 36 ; or. 
as there are three true molars, the latter quantity 
would be divided into : Premolars, f— f ; and Molars, 
|-f. The analogy of dentition would, however, make 
the formula more probably : Incisors, J-J ; Canines, 
J ; Premolars, |-| ; Molars, f-f ; = f-f = 36. The 
genus Urotrichus in many respects resembles the 
Shrews, and, in fact, may be considered as forming 
the connecting link between this family and the Moles, 
through Condylura.” 
GIBBS’ MOLE [Urotrichus gibbsii, Baird). — 'The 
only specimen of this Mole known, at the time the 
above record w'as made (1854), was obtained by Mr. 
George Gibbs, of Steilacoom, near the White River, 
Cascade Mountains, Washington 'I’erritory. It now 
bears the number 662, as a cabinet specimen in the 
Museum of the Smithsonian Institution. It is said to 
bear a close resemblance to the Condylura in color, 
feet and tail, from which it is readily distinguished by 
the much elongated muzzle, and the absence of the 
radiated snout. Its size is about that of the Sorex 
carolinensis. Its color is a uniform dark sooty- 
plumbeous. 'I’he body is about two and a quarter 
inches long, and the tail is the same length, exclusive 
of the head. 'I’he latter is constricted at its base, 
thickened at the middle slightly, and comes to a 
gradual tapering at the end. It is rather smaller than 
the Japanese U. talpoides, as described by 'I’emminck, 
the feet and tail being proportionately larger. 'I’he 
color of U. talpoides is maroon-brown. The skull of 
this specimen was too much injured, and was too 
immature, to present the dental and other important 
characters. 'I'he permanent teeth had not taken their 
places. Prof. Baird has, however, been able to give 
the following- : “ 'I’he skull is broader, and narrows 
anteriorly rather more abruptly than in Scalops. 'riie 
nasal bones extend as far as the anterior edge of the 
upper incisors, as in Scalops, not in Condylura. 
'I’here may be made out an anterior scalpriform in- 
cisor, broader than in Scalops, and projecting down- 
wards and behind the two smaller ones of similar 
shape. 'I’he permanent canine is not distinguishable, 
unless this be indicated by the emerging crown of a 
tooth, apparently with two roots. 'I’he premolars 
each have two roots. 'I’he molars are three in num- 
ber. 'I’he lower anterior incisor is much as in Condy- 
lura — broad, horizontal and half spoon-shaped.” 
Order V.— CARNIVORA. 
The Carnivorous animals, or Flesh-eaters, include 
those beasts formerly known under the systematic 
term Fer,e, which constituted an Order of the older 
naturalists. 'I’hey are now grouped as follows : Plan- 
tigrades— those that walk upon the flat palms and 
soles — the Bears ; and Digitigrades — those walking 
upon their digits, or toes and fingers — the Dogs and 
Cats. 'I’he Seals are by some authors included, and 
are called Pinnigrades, from the fact that they pro- 
gress by means of their fins, or fin-like feet. 'I’he 
teeth of the Carnivora are sharp and scissor-like, four 
of them being stout and long, and adapted to tear as 
well as to cut the flesh of their prey. 'I’he clavicles 
; are very small, and in some instances are entirely 
wanting. 'I’he stomach is very simple, and the intes- 
tines are short. Individuals of this Order are found 
, in every part of the habitable globe, between two 
I and three hundred species having been described. 
Scanty remains of the Carnivorous animals have 
been found fossil in the Eocene and the Lower Mio- 
I 
cene formations. In the caves of the diluvial de- 
posits, about the time of the Glacial Epoch, fossil 
remains were deposited. 'I’he caves of Brazil have 
furnished very interesting material, attributable to 
