176 
To precede Family Soricide, page 94: 
Genus ConpyLura  Illiger. 
Condylura, Illiger, Prodromus, 1811, 125. 
Astromycter, Harris. 
Talpasorez, Schinz: 
Rhimaster, Wagnet, Suppl. Schreb., ii, 1848, 113. 
Generic Characters.~-Moles having a fringe of elongated caruncies éncir- 
cling theendof thenose. The nostrils are circular and terminal; theaudi- 
tory openings are large; the tail is nearly as long as the body, and _is 
covered with hair. Dentition: i. $3; c. t+; pm. £3; m. $3—372—44. 
This genus was founded by Iiliger, who based the inappropriate name 
it bears on a supposed peculiar series of nodes on the tail, caused by its 
shrinking most around the middle of the vertebree. 
There is but one species of this remarkable genus, and it is limited to 
the northern portions of North America. The difference between Scalops 
and Condylura are notable. As in the Common Moles, the fore feet are 
large and flattened, but longer and narrower; the tail is much larger 
than in either Stalops cr Scapanus; the eyes are larger and the ear much 
more fully developed. But the most remarkable characters of Condylura 
are found in the ciliated extremity of its nose, from which its specific 
name is derived, and in the laciniated processes on the under surface of 
its fingers. The teeth, also, are entirely unlike those of the Common 
Mole. 
Its nearest relationship is with the Genus Urctrichus, which, with it, 
may be considered, according to Prof. Baird, as forming a connecting 
link between the Moles and the Shrews. 
CONDYLURA CRisTATA (Linn.) Desmarest. 
STAR-NOSED Moun. 
1758. Sorex cristatus, Linn., Syst. Nat.-(10th ed.), i, 1758,58; ib. (12th ed.), 
i, 1766, 73.—Erxleben, Syst. Reg. Anim., 1777, 121.—Schreber, 
Siugt., iii, 1778, 666—Bodd., Hlenchus Anim., i, 1784, 124.— 
Gmelin, Syst. Nat., 1, 1788, 112. 
1777. Talpa longicauda, Wrxl., Syst. Reg. Anim., i, 1777, 118 (from Pen- 
nant).—Shaw, Gen. Zool., Mamm., i, 1800, 523. 
1800. Talpa radiata, Shaw, Gen. Zodl., Mamm., i, 1800, 523. 
1800. Sorex radiatus, Shaw, Gen. Zodl., Mamm., i, 1800, 531, pl. cxxx. 
1819. Condylura cristata, Desmarest, Journ. de Physique, lxxxix, 1819, 
230; ib., Mamm., i, 1820, 157.—Harlan, Fauna Am., 1825, 36.— 
Godman, J. A. N. Sc., Phila., V, i, 1825, 169.—-Griffith, Cuv., ii, 
