TAi.pin.i;. MAMMALIA. Soricidas. 65 
interest. The skull exhibits a more conical form than 
obtains in the true moles. There are no less than 
nineteen pairs of ribs, whilst in one species as many as 
twenty have been counted. The sternum is provided 
with small concave lateral appendages ; the first rib is 
unusuall}'' broad ; the clavicles and the scapulae are 
long and thin. The humerus is comparatively longer 
than that of the common mole, and at the lower part 
it is not only articulated to the radius and ulna, but also 
to a third bone, specially developed to strengthen the 
arm during the action of burrowing. This strange 
supplementary osseous appendage is supposed to 
represent one of the carpal elements of the wrist ; be 
that as it may, the circumstance of these creatures’ 
possessing a fore-arm consisting of three long bones, 
indicates an anatomical and morphological change 
altogether without precedent in this region of the 
mammiferous skeleton. The Lustrous Cape Mole or 
Chrysochlore — Fig. 19 — is not quite so long as the 
Fig. 19. 
The Lustrous Cape Mole or Chrysochlore. 
common European mole. The fur is of a brownish 
colour, capable of reflecting irridescent hues of green 
and purple, which change to a copper or bronze tint; 
and thus we have brought before us, in the language 
of Cuvier, “ the only known quadruped which exhibits 
any appearance of that splendid metallic lustre which 
adorns so many birds, fishes, and insects.” The species 
under consideration is found at the Cape of Good 
Hope, but other kinds are obtained from the same 
localitjq as well as from the neighbourhood of Mozam- 
bique. 
Family II.— SORICID^. 
From a consideration of the moles we pass by a very 
natural transition to the Soricidas, which are more 
commonly known as the shrews, or shrew-mice. They 
have a very general resemblance to ordinary mice; 
but while the latter have their front teeth formed for 
gnawing vegetable structures, the former are entirely 
insect-feeders, as in the case of the moles. The 
typical Soricidse exhibit conspicuous eyes and ears, 
and the feet are not formed for burrowing in the soil, 
VoL. I. 9 
or, in other words, are non-fossorial. In some of the 
aberrant types we still recognize the peculiar talpine 
features, and so much so is this the case in the genus 
we shall here first elucidate, that it becomes almost a 
matter of indifference whether we class them as moles 
or shrews, or, on the other hand, altogether recognize 
them as a separate osculant group. 
THE SHEEW MOLE {Scalops aquaticus). — This 
species, in common with others of the genus Scalops, 
presents a stout, thickset, cylindrical bod}’-, the limbs 
being remarkably short. The pentadactylous feet and 
hands very closely resemble those of the common mole, 
especially the latter, which are also situated close to 
the auditory opening. The head terminates anteriorly 
in a movable snout, which is naked at the tip. The 
teeth are probably forty-four in number, but a con- 
siderable difference of opinion exists on this point. 
According to Professor Owen there are twelve incisors, 
four canines, sixteen false grinders, and twelve true 
molars; half of these severally 
belonging to either jaw. The 
eyes are extremely small and 
concealed by the fur. The 
colour of the hair is, generally 
speaking, of a greyish black, 
approaching to brown in some 
regions, especially on the fore- 
head, where it assumes a 
chestnut tinge. The length of 
the body is rather more than 
seven and a half inches, nol 
including the tail, which is 
snort, annulated, and very 
thinly clothed with hair. The 
shrew-moles are inhabitants of 
the low grounds and marshy 
districts bordering on the river 
Columbia, and the adjacent 
coasts of the Pacific. Sir 
John Richardson speaking of 
their habits says, that they resemble our common 
European mole, “ in leading a subtei-ranean life, 
forming galleries, throwing up little mounds of earth, 
and in feeding pi-incipally on earthworms and grubs. 
Dr. Godman has given a detailed and interesting 
account of their manners, particularly of one which 
was domesticated by Mr. Titian Peale. He men- 
tions that they are most active, early in the morning, 
at mid-day, and in the evening, and that they are 
well known in the country to have the remarkable 
custom of coming daily to the surface exactly at noon. 
They may be taken alive by thrusting a spade beneath 
them and throwing them on the surface, but Can 
scarcely be caught at any other period of the day. 
They burrow in a variety of soils, and in wet seasons 
are observed to retreat to the higher grounds. The 
captive one in possession of Mr. Peale ate considerable 
quantities of fresh meat, either cooked or raw, drank 
freely, and was remarkably lively and playful, following 
the hand of its feeder by the scent, burrowing for a 
short distance in the loose earth, and, after making a 
small circle, returning for more food. When engaged 
in eating he employed his flexible snout in a singular 
