G4 'i’ALriD.E. MAMMALIA Talpid^e. 
very minute eves. The ears are destitute of conspicu- 
which form a margin to the fore ones. The hind 
ous auricles ; the feet are pentadactylous or five-toed ; 
toes are longer than the fore ones, and are armed with 
the tail is of moderate length, varying, however, in 
more slender claws, which are white, awl-shaped. 
tliis respect with different species, and only loosely 
clothed with hair. In the Thick-tailed 
curved, and acute. They have a narrow groove towards 
Star-nose “ the head is remarkably 
large ; the body is stout and short, ^ 
and becomes narrower towards the \ \ 
tail, and the hind legs are conse- 
quently nearer to each other than 
the fore ones. The nose is rather / M 
thick, and projects beyond the 
mouth. It is naked towards its ^ 
end, is marked with a furrow above, 
and terminates in a flat surface, ■- p 
whicb is surrounded by seventeen ' ’ 
cartilaginous processes, with two 
more anterior ones situated above 
The Common Star-nose (Condylura cristata). 
the nostrils, and a pair of forked ones immediately 
their point underneath.” The length of the body, not 
below the nostrils. The surfaces of these processes 
including the tail, is four inches and a quarter. This 
are minutely granulated. Some white whiskers spring 
minute and accurate account is taken from Sir John 
from the side of the nose, and reach about half the 
Richardson’s description of a specimen captured on 
length of the head. There are others not so long on 
the banks of the river Columbia, and all the examples 
the upper and under lips. The fur on the body is 
hitherto received have been brought from North 
very soft and fine, and has considerable lustre. It is 
American districts. Fig. 18. represents a very closely- 
longer than the fur of the other two known species. 
allied form. The generic name Condylura was origin- 
Its colour on the dorsal aspect is dark amber brown. 
ally given to these moles by the naturalist Illiger, who 
approaching to blackish-brown. On the helly it is 
was misled by a figure which had been executed from 
pale liver brown. When the fur is blown aside it 
a dried specimen, and consequently showed a knotted 
e.xhibits a shining blackish-grey colour towards its 
appearance of the tail. This irregularity of the tail 
roots. It is longer behind the head and on the neck. 
unfortunately suggested to him the generic title now 
than on the belly. The tail is narrow at its origin ; 
generally adopted ; but the term Rhinaster proposed 
but it suddenly swells to an inch and a half in cir- 
by Wagler, would have been, scientifically speaking. 
cumference. It then tapers gradually until it ends in 
more correct. 
a tine point, formed by a pencil of hairs about half an 
THE LUSTEOUS CAPE MOLE {CJtrysochloris ca- 
inch long. It is round, or very slightly compressed, 
pensis ). — The members of this small genus are also 
and is covered with scales about as large as those on 
pretty closely allied to the true moles. 'They differ, 
the feet, and with short, tapering, acute hairs which do 
however, in some respects, and among the most 
not conceal the scales. The hairs covering the upper 
important distinctions are those which concern the 
surface of the tail are nearly black ; those beneath are 
skeleton and teeth. Following the authority of De 
of a browner hue. The extremities are shaped almost 
Blainville, there appear to be twelve cutting teeth, six 
precisely like those of C. longicaudata, only the 
above and six below, the two central teeth of the 
palms and toes of the fore feet project beyond the 
lower jaw being very minute. Of the grinding series 
body. The palms are nearlj'- circular, and are pro- 
there are probably twenty-eight, six of which come 
tected by a granulated skin, like shagreen. The sides 
under the category of false grinders or premolars, two 
of the feet are furnished with long white hairs which 
of them being superior and four inferior. The true 
curve in over the palms. The five toes are very short. 
molars have the iorni of triangular prisms with trans- 
equal to each other in length, and, together with the 
verse crowns, which in the lower set are divided by 
back of the hands, are covered with hexagonal scales. 
corresponding grooves. All the species have the eyes 
The fore claws are white, nearly straight, broadly 
covered by the integument, while there is no appearance 
linear and acute, convex above and flat beneath. 
of an external ear. The muzzle is short and broad, ter- 
The palms turn obliquely outwards, which causes the 
minating in a slightly pointed and projecting nose. The 
fourth claw to project rather farthest; but the third 
fore foot or hand is apparently tetradactylous ; but 
one measures as much, the second is shorter, and the 
there are in reality five toes or fingers, the phalanges 
first and fifth are equal to each other, and a little 
of the third and fourth fingers having coalesced to form 
shorter than the rest. The hind feet are also turned 
a single gigantic digit. The latter is armed with a pro- 
obliquely outwards, and are scaly, with a few interposed 
digiously strong claw, which is broad and arcuated, 
hairs above, and granulated underneath. The sides 
forming a powerful weapon for digging and burrowing 
are narrow, and present a conspicuous callous tubercle 
in the earth ; the fifth digit is particularly small and 
posterior to the origin of the inner toe. The hind 
rudimentary. The hind feet are obviously pentadac- 
legs are very short, and are clothed with soft brown 
tylous, the several toes presenting the ordinary dimen- 
hairs, a tuft of which curves over the heel. There 
sions. The body is short and stout, and unprovided 
are no hairs on the sides of the hind feet, like those 
with a tail. The skeleton offers numerous points of 
