SORKX I'l.ATVRHTNUS. 1/5 



be able to procure sufficient animal food to sustain them during om 

 lone and severe winters ; indeed, I incline to believe that their diet 



o 



is more comprehensive than most writers suppose, and that they 

 feed upon beechnuts and a variety of seeds, and possibly roots as 

 well, though I confess that I have no direct evidence to adduce in 



o 



support of this supposition. 



SOREX PLATYRHINUS (DeKay) Linsley. 

 Broad-nosed 



This species, which was first described by Dr. DeKay, from a speci- 

 men taken in this State, is not rare in the Adirotidacks, though I do not 

 think it is as plentiful here as Sorex CoopcrL which it much re- 

 sembles in habits. 



Its diminutive size does not exempt it from the attacks of predatory 

 birds, for, in April, 1882, I shot, at Morse Lake, a Canada Jay whose 

 stomach contained the remains, including the under jaw, of a Shrew 

 which seemed to be of the present species. I have also taken it at 

 Big Moose Lake. 



The individual from which Dr. DeKay 's description was drawn, 

 was captured " at Tappan, Rocklancl county, in the cellar of a dwell- 

 ing-house, having taken up its abode between the stones of the 

 foundation. It was exceedingly agile ; and when excited, emitted a 

 shrill, twittering squeak. It ate greedily of fresh meat, but died in 

 the course of a few days. Through the politeness of my friend, the 

 Rev. J. H. Linsley of Elmwood Place, Connecticut, I had an oppor- 

 tunity of examining another specimen, which was obtained from a 

 log in the forest in winter, near Stratford. According to Mr. Linsley, 

 it weighed 47 grains." * Prof. Baird mentions a specimen that 

 weighed but 37 grains, f 



* Zoology of New York. Part I, 1842, p. 23. 



\ Pacific Rail Road Reports, vol. VIII, 1857, p. 26. 



