ORDERS OF MAMMALIA. 341 
are completely concealed beneath the fur. They are all noc- 
turnal burrowing animals. The Star-nosed Moles (Condylura) 
are American, but their habits are like those of the European 
Mole (Zalpa Europea, fig. 186). The Golden Moles (Czryso- 
chloris) are African, and are remarkable for the iridescence of 
their fur. The Shrews are very like the true Mice in external 
appearance, but they are really widely different. The body is 
covered with hair, the feet are not adapted for digging, and there 
are mostly external ears, while the eyes are well developed. No 
division of the /zsectzvora is more abundant or more widely 
distributed than the Sorzczde, and one of the Shrews is pro- 
bably the smallest of existing Mammals, not exceeding two and 
a half.inches in length, counting in the tail. Besides the true 
Shrews (Sorex), this family includes also the Elephant Shrews 
(Wacroscelides) of Africa, and the common Water-mole (Scalops 
aguaticus) of North America, The third family includes only 
the well-known Hedgehogs, which have the power of rolling 
themselves into a ball at the approach of danger, and which 
have the upper surface of the body covered with short prickly 
spines, forming a protective armour. The common European 
Hedgehog (Arinaceus Europeus) is the type of the family, but 
other species occur in Africa and India. The ‘“ Tenrecs” 
(Centetes) of Madagascar are closely allied to the Hedgehogs, 
but have no power of rolling themselves up. The “ Banxrings” 
(Tupaza) of the Indian Archipelago have a long, compressed 
tail, and live mostly in trees. 
Before passing on to the next order, a few words must be said 
about a curious transitional form, which has been alternately 
placed in the Checrofiera, the [usectivora, or the Quadrumana, 
or has been regarded as the type of a separate order. The ani- 
mal alluded to is the so-called Flying Lemur (Galeopithecus 
volitans), of which more than one species is known as inhabit- 
ing the Indian Archipelago. The leading characteristic in this 
singular animal is the possession of a flying-membrane, which 
extends as a broad expansion from the nape of the neck to the 
arms, from the arms to the hind-legs, and from the hind-legs 
to the tail. The fingers are not elongated, and do not support 
a “ patagium,” so that the animal has no power of true flight, but 
can simply take extended leaps from tree to tree. The Galeopz- 
thecus lives chiefly upon small insects and birds, and it should, 
probably, be regarded as an aberrant form of the /zsectivora. 
