218 



BULLETIN OF THE 



group. What I do claim is, that there is as yet no good evidence of the 

 existence of more than the common and widely dispersed B. brevicauda; 

 that the numerous other supposed species that have been described are 

 mainly based, in the first section, on variations in size dependent upon 

 locality, and that there are strong indications that those of the second 

 section rest on variations, dependent upon immaturity, of the representa- 

 tives of the first; that if other species do exist, as is not of course improba- 

 ble, naturalists have thus far failed to satisfactorily establish the fact. In 

 number of species, Blarina thus corresponds with Condi/lura, and in dis- 

 tribution with Scalops aquaticus. 



In the following comparative analysis of the diagnoses of sections A and 

 B of Blarina, given in the Report on North American Mammals, some 

 points but casually alluded to above arc more fully discussed. A table 

 of synonymes is also added. 



Genus Blarina Gray. 



List of the Species. 



Section A. 

 B. talpoides. 

 B. brevicauda. 

 B. carolinensis. 

 B. angusticeps. 



Section B. 

 B. cincrea. 

 B. exilipes. 

 B. Berlandieri. 



Diagnoses. 



Color. 



" Nearly uniform plumbeous on the " Lower parts of the body usually 



body and tail ; scarcely lighter beneath." lighter than the upper, with the Una of 



d> marc.alion distinctly visible." 



Exceptions. — Specimens of V>. ted- Exceptions. — B. cinerea : Hoary above, 



poides are mentioned as " slightly paler "somewhat resembling pepper and salt"; 



beneath," "fading to the belly into a still below, "a lighter tint of brownish gray 



paler tint," &c. ; of B. carolinensis as be- or light ash; the line of demarcation in 



ing " a little paler beneath." Massachu- one specimen indistinct, in another more 



setts specimens of Blarina arc generally evident." B. Berlandieri : " In one [spe- 



nearl;i uniform, but many specimens occur cimen] the prevailing tint is a chestnut 



that arc considerably lighter beneath, brown at the tips of the hairs, with paler 



The general color also varies from ashy next to the tips, producing a slight hoari- 



and brownish through grayish plumbe- ness. The under parts arc a yellowish- 



ous to exceedingly dark, almost black, brownish white; the line, of demarcation 



11 isionally the hairs arc so varied with on the sidts quite indistinct." 

 light and dark as to present a hoary ap- 

 pear.. 



