89 
+ Skull with the posterior ridges obsolete; foramen magnum oblong, and inclined far 
forwards below; with no distinct post-glenoid process; with the tympanic element 
forming a bulla; intraorbital canal an extensive transverse aperture, arched over 
by a very narrow, osseous bar; zygomatic arch a slender rod; lower jaw with the 
ascending rami erect, and without cavities at the bottoms of the coronoid processes. 
molar teeth with the postero-internal ledge obsolete or wanting. Cervical vertebre 
with no hypapophyses; dorsal and lumbar with no hyperapophyses. Sternum with 
manubrium broad and keeled. Anterior members developed more than the poste- 
rier; with carpus more or less enlarged, and at least with an os intermedium. 
Scapula long and narrow. . 4 : : 4 . : 5 : TALPIDA. 
tt Skull with the posterior ridges well developed; the foramen magnum sub-circu- 
lar, and inclined little forwards below; with a well developed post-glenoid process ; 
with the tympanic element annular, not forming a bulla; infraorbital canal a rather 
long sub cylindrical tunnel], covered by a very broad, osseous wall; zygomatic arch 
not developed. Lower jaw with the ascending rami deflected outwards, and each 
with a cavity at the bottom of the coronoid process. Molar teeth with a postero- 
internal ledge armed with a cusp at its antero-internal angle. Vertebre charac- 
teristic; cervical with weli developed hypapophyses; dorsal and lumbar with dis- 
tinct hyperapophyses. Sternum with the manubrium broad but ecarinate. Ante- 
rior members more slender than the posterior; with carpus normal, having no sickle- 
shaped bone or os intermedium; scapula short and broad. . : SORICIDZ. 
FAMILY TALPIDA. 
In addition to the dental and skeletal characters already given in the 
Key to the Families of Insectivora the following external characters are 
added: Body stout, thick, and clumsy, without visible neck; limbs very 
short; the anterior much broader and larger than the posterior ; provided 
with strong claws, adapted for digging. Scapula as long as the humerus 
and radius together. Hyes small; sometimes concealed by the integu- 
ment. No external ears; the meatus sometimes minute, and sometimes 
of ordinary size. Nostrils at end of snout, lateral or superior. Tail 
usually short; sometimes as long as the body. Fur usually soft, com- 
pact and velvety. 
A family of general distribution, except in tropical regions and in 
South America. Each region has its characteristic genera. Talpa is 
found in Europe and Asia; Scalops, Scapanus, Condylura, and Urotrichus, 
in America; the last named genus occurs, also, in Japan, and is the only 
insectiverous genus known to be common to both hemispheres. Talpa is 
not found in America, although Scapanus brewert has been mistaken for 
Talpa europea. 
GENus ScaLops Cuvier. 
Etymology: Skalops, mole, from Skallo, to dig. 
Scalops, Cuv., ‘‘Lecons @’ Anat. Comp. i, 1800. 
This genus, as characterized by Cuvier, included Moles, with the nose 
