22 Mr. E. BIyth on the Indian species of Shrews. 



is evidently distinct from all the preceding. It is remarkable 

 for its very dark colour, extending over the feet and tail, which 

 is even blackish underneath. Length of tail I in., and of hind- 

 foot II in. Fur blackish-brown above, a little tinged rufescent, 

 and with dark greyish underneath ; the feet and tail conspicu- 

 ously furred, besides the scattered long hairs upon the latter. 



Here may be noticed, that the Society formerly possessed a 

 specimen of one of these minute Shrews, which was found in a 

 cellar in Madras, and was presented by Walter Elliot, Esq., 

 Madras Civil Service. We formerly considered it identical with 

 S. MicRONYx, so that it could scarcely be so with S. melanodon 

 of Bengal; it was, however, darker than S. micrgnyx; and 

 more probably S. Perrotetii {verus), if not distinct from the 

 whole of the foregoing. It is even probable that several more 

 Indian species of these most diminutive of all Mammalia remain 

 to be discriminated. Upon minute comparison of five speci- 

 mens in our Museum, taken out of spirit and carefully dried for 

 the occasion, we immediately detected four well-marked species, 

 and presently afterwards obtained the S. melanodon fresh. It 

 may be further remarked, that we once found the nearly digested 

 remains of an adult small white-toothed Sorex, rather larger 

 than a common mouse, in the stomach of an Elanus which was 

 shot on the banks of the Hugli, about fifty miles above Calcutta ; 

 but we have since in vain sought to procure the species. 



[Since the publication of Mr. Blyth's memoir, he writes me 

 word that he has procured another typical Sorex, of which the 

 following is a description : — 



S. FULiGiNOsus, Blyth, n. s. Length of an adult female 

 taken from spirits, 5| in.; tail 2\ in.; {oot plus | in.; skull 

 1 in., and y'g in. in greatest diameter. Length of series of 

 upper teeth -^^ in. ; breadth of palate J in. Soles bare to 

 the heel ; tail with seventeen vertebrse, and perhaps a minute 

 eighteenth at the tip. The scattered long hairs on the tail 

 small and fine. Fur dense, porrect, and somewhat velvety ; 

 dark slaty at base, the rest fuliginous-brown, with inconspicuous 

 dull hoary tips; beneath scarcely (if at all) paler. A second 

 specimen differs merely in being a trifle smaller. Hab. Schwe 

 Gyen, Pegu. 



Besides the foregoing species thus enumerated by Mr. Blyth, 

 are two others, named S. saturatior and S. leucops by Mr. 

 Hodgson ; they have been described by Dr. Horsfield in the 



ferociously predatory upon any hapless birdlet they may chance to seize, — 

 as is likewise the case with Moles, and doubtless other Soricid^ of ade- 

 quate size and strength. 



