on the Genus Scalops. 31 



extent, that the student of natural history finds it a grievous 

 evil. 



2. ScALOPs TowNSENDi. Bach. Townsend's Shrew-mole, 



Scalops Canadensis ; KjcHxnBso:!!. Fauna Boreali-jSmericana. p. 9. 

 Scalops Townsendi ; Bach. Jour. Acad. Nat. Scien. VIII. p. 58. 



Characters. Townsend's Shrew-mole. Larger than Sca- 

 lops aquaticusj color darker, having a different dental arrange- 

 ment. 



This species, first described by Dr. Richardson, was incor- 

 rectly referred to the common Shrew-mole of the United 

 States ; but its size and dentition are sufficient evidence of its 

 being a new and distinct species. 



A specimen of this quadruped was kindly presented to me 

 by Mr. Nuttall, who requested that, in case it should prove a 

 distinct species, it might be given under the above name. I 

 subsequently received from Mr. Townsend another specimen, 

 a little larger in size, which I presume to be a mere variety, 

 although very singularly marked. 



Dental formula. Incisors |- ; False mol. If ; True mo- 

 lars 1^44. 



Length of the head and body, - 7 inches, 6 lines. 



Length of tail, ... - 1 6 



Breadth of palm, - - . - 6 



The body of the specimen received from Mr. Nuttall, is 

 thick and cylindrical, shaped like the Shrew-mole of the 

 United States. The whole upper and under surface is of a 

 dark color, in most lights appearing black ; the hair, when 

 blown aside, exhibits a greyish black color, from the roots to 

 neai' the tips. The tail is slightly clothed with short, strong 

 bristles. 



The specimen brought by Mr. Townsend, is thicker, and 

 about an inch longer. It has a white stripe, about two lines 

 wide, commencing under the chin and running in a somewhat 

 irregular line, along the under surface of the body to within 

 an inch and a half of the insertion of the tail ; there is also 



