MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. 2L5 



precisely with many from Massachusetts and elsewhere, and are essentially 

 the same in proportion with those of the largest-sized speeimens of S. tal- 

 poides." But he adds: " There is, however, a distinct speeies in the South- 

 ern States, considerably smaller than 5. talpoides, to which Bachman's name 

 may be applied." Further on he gives a diagnosis of a " B. carolinensis," 

 under which he cites Bachman's " .S'. carolinensis" us a synonyme. He de- 

 scribes it as "size considerably less than adults of B. talpoides" and gives 

 the length of head and body as " about 2.50 inches." Comparing it 

 with B. brevicauda, he says it differs from that speeies in its considerably 

 smaller s'ze, proportionally smaller feet, and in having the " third and fourth 

 lateral teeth larger in proportion to the first and second," &c. Under this 

 In a 1 he cites four specimens, three of which are from Missouri, and the 

 other from South Carolina. These, he says, "agree in the main very well 

 together, and as indicating a southern speeies smaller than B. talpoides or 

 in oiaauda." After finally referring .S\ carolbu nsis of Baehinan to this 

 species, he says: '• I am by no means clear, however, that the particular 

 measurements cited by him do not belong really to a specimen of B. tal- 

 poides ; but," he strangely adds, Dr. Baehman having given us no such inti- 

 mation, "he [Dr. Baehman] undoubtedly was acquainted with a species 

 smaller than the latter" (>'. carolinensis Baehman). That there is a some- 

 what smaller race in the South is unquestionable, but its specific rank is 

 not to me so clear. This smaller form seems to occur generallv throughout 

 the Southern States, and along the low coast border as far north as New 

 Jersey, and even perhaps to New York, corresponding in the limits of its 

 distribution northward with the northern boundary of the Carolinian 

 Fauna; the larger form occupying the Northern States generally, and the 

 highlands of the Allegbanics south to Georgia; it thus occurring throughout 

 the whole extent of the Alleghanian Fauna, and pos;-ibly throughout the 

 Canadian. The range of B brevicauda is now carried southwards to Florida 

 and Texas, with only such differences in size between northern and south- 

 ern specimens as are admitted to occur in other unquestioned species of 

 mammals that have the same geographical range ; the difference in size 

 being the only constant or tangible distinction yet pointed out. The dif- 

 ficulty experienced by Professor Baird in determining the species of the 

 older authors, it seems to me results chiefly from two causes: first, the 

 imperfect character of the descriptions, which are generally of single speci- 

 mens only, and of skins anil stuffed examples; second, the by far too great 

 number indicated. 



In this connection it is proper to notice a species of Blarina described as 

 new in the Lleporl on North American Mammals (p. 4 7) from a single speci- 

 men from Burlington, Vermont. This specimen, its describer savs, '• in ex- 

 ternal appearance perfectly resembles specimens of B. talpoides" but "has 



