the termination of the long sacro-spinal ridge, and in so close apposition that the
two hones appear to meet and form an arch over the commencement of th,e caudal
vertebrae, in this respect differing remarkably from Talpa and Crocidv/ra.
The femur is short and cylindrical, as in Talpa and Crocidv/ra, flattened behind
between the two trochanters with the rudiment of a third trochanter. The tibia
and fibula are anchylosed throughout more than their lower halves. The former
is shaped as in Crocidura, but the lower anterior extremity of the amalgamated
bones is rather deeply concave below, apd from the tibial side of the concavity a
well marked process projects downwards and outwards across the concavity to the
fibular side, in which there is a marked anterior process, and these two are connected
by a ligament, so that the underlying tendons are securely held in position. The
metatarsus is slightly shorter than the tarsus. The latter is normal, but it has a
well developed, falciform sesamoid on the tibial side, as in Talpa.
Measurements o f skeleton.
Inohes.
Length of vertebral column from atlas to extremity of sacral spinous ridge . . . . 2*46
„ „ caudal vertebra . . . . . . . . . .' . . . '75
„ „ pre and m e s o s tem um ............................................................................... ......... .' *58
,, „ clavicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *33
„ „ s capula.......................................................... '44
Greatest breadth of scapula *08
Length o f acromion from base of metacromial p r o c e s s ............................................................ *06
„ „ metacromial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *08
„ - „ humerus . . . . . . . . ' ....................................................... *46
„ „ ulna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *58
„ '•)&! rad iu s .................................................................. *42
„ „ carpus and metacarpus.................................................................................................. *21
„ „ middle finger . * *19
„ „ pelvis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *58
„ „ thyroid f o r am e n ........................................................................................ . . . *12
Greatest breadth o f thyroid f o r a m e n ......................................................................................................... *04
Crest of ilium to anterior margin o f acetabulum . . . . . . . . . *29
Posterior, margin o f acetabulum to extremity o f pelvis . . . . . . . . ' *25
Breadth o f right side of pelvis across acetabulum........................................................... ......... . *12
Distance between pubes anteriorly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
„ : „ „ p o s t e r i o r l y ........................................................... *20
Length of f em u r ......................................................................................................................................*26
„ „ tibia . . . . . . . . . . . *75
„ „ free portion of f i b u l a ............................................................................................................ *25
„ „ t a r s u s ..................................................................................................................................................*25
„ „ metatarsus *20
„ „ fourth toe . . . . . , . . . . . . , *21
There is no caecum, and the intestine is 12'75" in length, The stomach
when inflated has a greater transverse than longitudinal capacity, and the (Esophageal
and pyloric extremities approach close to each other and are nearly on the
same level, the former being almost in the middle line of the viscus. The cardiae
half projects considerably to the left, and there is a much narrower projection
to the right of the pylorus.
The sub-maxillary glands are very large, 0"-36 long by 0"T8 in breadth, and
they reach as far back as on a line with the anterior margin of the axilla.
Conclusion.—The skull and dentition of this remarkable animal are essentially
Soricine, and by its dentition it is allied to Diplomesodon ; it is, however, so anomalous
in its form and in the rudimentary character of its tail and in the great size of
its head, and so Talpi/ne in the structure of its pelvis, that it merits being placed
apart from all other genera of shrews, whether terrestrial or aquatic, in a subfamily,
Anurosoricin/e.