VOL. XIV, PP. 41-45 APRIL 25, 1901 



PROCEEDINGS 



OP THE 



BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 



FIVE NEW SHREWS FROM EUROPE.* 



BY GERRIT S. MILLER, JR. 



Among the extensive series of European shrews collected for 

 the United States National Museum during the past three years 

 there are five forms that have not been hitherto described. Two 

 of these were taken in Sicily by Mr. Dane Coolidge, two in the 

 foothills of the Pyrenees by Mr. Robert T. Young, and one in 

 Switzerland by Mr. J. Alden Loring. 



Crocidura sicula sp. nov. 



Type. Adult male (skin and skull) No. 103,301 United States National 

 Museum. Collected at Palermo, Sicily, June 20, 1900, by Dane Coolidge. 

 Original No. 1332. 



Characters. Smaller than Crocidura russula from central Europe (total 

 length about 105 instead of 120; hind foot, 13 instead of 15); color, both 

 above and below, lighter than in the continental animal. 



Color. Dorsal surface drab (a trifle paler than Ridgway's pi. Ill, fig. 

 18) faintly clouded with broccoli-brown, many of the hairs showing sil 

 very tips in certain lights. Underparts pale smoke-gray approaching 

 white. Along sides the transition from drab to gray is much more 

 abrupt than in C. russula in corresponding coat. Tail dull drab, faintly 

 paler below. Feet an indefinite gray intermediate between color of tail 

 and belly. The fur is everywhere gray (Ridgeway pi. II, fig. 7) at base. 



Skull and teeth. The skull and teeth are uniformly and noticeably 



*Published here by permission of the Secretary of the Smithsonian 

 Institution. 



9 BIOL. Soc. WASH. VOL. XIV, 1901. (41) 



