FAMILY SORECIDiE. 17 



collection of the Zoological Society of London, undoubtedly from America, but the particular 

 district was not known. 



The Shrew-mole has a wide geographical range, being found from Carolina to the fiftieth 

 degree of north latitude, and from the Atlantic to the shores of the Pacific. 



GENUS SOREX. Linneus. 



Cutting teeth, §•; the upper curved and notched at the base. Head elongated; snout pro- 

 duced and moveable. Ears short, rounded, broader than long, concealed, occasionally not 

 elevated above the skull. Feet short, with five nails ; phalanges small, separate, with 

 feeble hooked nails. A series of glands, exhaling a strong odor, along the flanks. Cheek 

 teeth, 2£. 



Obs. This genus contains some of the smallest of our quadrupeds. The English translator 

 of Cuvier's Regne Animal, asserts that no genuine Shrews are to be found, except on the 

 ancient continent ; an assertion which is contradicted by the fact that thirteen species have 

 been described in North America, and when farther investigations are made, the number will 

 probably be much increased. It will be found that the characters of the genus will require 

 careful revision, and several small but distinct groups will be established. The habits of the 

 animals of this genus are nocturnal, and they burrow for the most part in the ground like the 

 shrew-mole. All are said to be fond of the water, swimming with great ease, and diving 

 well. 



DE KAY'S SHREW 



SOREX DEKAYI. 

 PLATE V. FIG. 2. — (STATE COLLECTION.) 

 Sorex dekayi. Bachman, Acad. Sc. Vol. 7, p. 377, pi. 23, fig. 4. 



Characteristics. Uniform dark bluish throughout. Chin light brown. Feet reddish brown. 

 Total length 5 to 6 inches. 



Description. Body subfusiform, tapering gradually to the snout, which is elongated, emar- 

 ginate, and covered near the extremity with short hairs. Head small ; nostrils terminal. 

 Eyes visible, and - 6 distant from the snout. No projecting external ear. Whiskers nu- 

 merous, whitish ; the longest were five-tenths of an inch long. The fore feet • 5 long, 

 sparsely hairy, with scaly phalanges ; the internal toe or thumb is articulated high up, and 

 is shorter than the external ; the second and fourth subequal ; the middle longest ; claws 

 short, white, and feebly channelled beneath for two-thirds of their length from the tips. Base 

 of the claws enlarged, and compressed laterally. Hind legs placed very far back, 0*6 long, 

 and sparsely hairy ; the three middle claws subequal. Tail very slender, subquadrate, with 

 Fauna. 3 



