18 Mr. E. Blyth on the Indian species of Shrews, 



animal — " Size and proportions of S. nemorivaguSj H. (nearly), 

 but distinguished by its feet being clad with fur down to the 

 nails, and by its depressed head and tumid bulging cheeks 

 (mystaceal region). Ears large and exposed. Colour a uniform 

 sordid or brownish slaty- blue, extending to the clad extremities. 

 Snout to rump 3^ in.; tail 2^ in. ; planta {| in. This animal 

 was caught in a wood plentifully watered, but not near the 

 water. It had no musky smell when brought to me dead." 

 Hab. Nepal and Sikim. 



[For further remarks on the synonymy of this species, see a 

 note appended to the account of Soriculus nigrescens. — R. F. T.] 



5. S. NEMORivAGUs, Hodgsou, Ann. & Mag.Nat.Hist. xv.269. 

 Differs from the ordinary type " by a stouter make, by ears 

 smaller, and legs entirely nude, and by a longer and more tetra- 

 gonal tail. Colour sooty-black, with a vague reddish smear ; 

 the nude parts fleshy-grey. Snout to rump 3f in. ; tail 2 in. ; 

 planta \^ in. Found only in woods and coppices." Nepal. 

 Accordmg to Dr. Gray, an example presented to the British 

 Museum by Mr. Hodgson, as of this species, "is probably only 

 a half-grown specimen of S. murinus " (i. e. c^erulescens) ! * 

 The foregoing description should indicate a very different ani- 

 mal, but which might be mistaken for the young of S. murinus 

 (verus), and such probably is the supposed S. murinus from 

 Nepal of Dr. Horsfield's Catalogue. 



[See the note on this last-mentioned species. — R. F. T.] 



6. S. HETERODON, nobis, n. s. Very similar to S. soccatus 

 in general appearance, but less dark-coloured, with shorter fur, 

 and pale instead of blackish feet and tail underneath ; the feet, 

 too, are broader, especially the hind-feet, and they have a hairy 

 patch below the heel. The skull, of the same length as in 

 S. SOCCATUS, and with equally large teeth, is much more narrow, 

 and the upper quasi-incisors are conspicuously less strongly 

 hooked than in that and other typical Sorices. From Cherra 

 Punji in the Khasya Hills. 



7. S. NIGER, Elliot; described in Dr. Horsfield^s Catalogue 

 (1851). "Length of the head and body 3| in. ; of tail 2^ in. 

 Tail equal in length to the entire animal, exclusive of the head, 

 gradually tapering to a point. Snout greatly attenuated. Colour 



* We made a description of the identical specimen before it was taken 

 by Mr. Hodgson to England, viz. — " Of a shining rufescent-brown colour, 

 merely weaker on the under parts. Length 3^ in. ; of tail 1| in. ; fore-feet 

 and claws ^ in. ; the claws alone \ in., and of a yellow colour, perhaps 

 whitish in the fresh animal ; hind- feet and claws f in." 



